The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-11
BLOOD IS. ON The MOON
Colonel fitzsimmOns Severely Pun
mels the Deputy Revenue Collector.
CRAIG SLAPPED THE COLONEL
Younger Man Ran, but the Colonel Caught
Him, and Craig's Countenance Was
Disfigurcd Enmity OF Long stand.
ing-Chargcs OF Doodle.

The strained relations existing for
weeks between Colonel Frank j. FitZ-
simmons, one of the publishers of the
Sunday News. and William Craig,
deputy revenue collector, ended last
night In an insult and retaliation In
the Scranton House dining room.
Mr.. Craig issued from the worse end
of the encounter. His eye was black
ened, his cheek was cut and a copious
flow of blood came from his nose. A
slight abrasion OF the skin over the
cheek bone is the only mark Colonel
Plt2simmons carries.
1t had been known for several weeks
that serious difference existed be-
tween the two. That it was of a poll
teal nature many Were aware, but only
their intimates knew until yesterday
the true bitterness and personality OF
the controversy. Yesterdays Sunday
News contained copy of a letter ad-
dressed to Collector of Revenue Her
ring and signed by Colonel Fitzsim-
mons. which charged Mr.. Craig with
being a boodler and a corruptionist.
That letter was the immediate cause of
the personal encounter.
At G.l5 o'clock Colonel Fit2slmmOns
entered the Scranton House dining
room. removed his overcoat and hat
and had just seated himself when
Craig entered hastily from the smaller
dining room in the rear.
Craig Wanted Information.
do you mean to say l am bood-
ler?" asked Craig.
This is neither the time nor the
. ] t,Ia T., | vich
would leave me-" said the colonel.
Craigs voice rose higher as he re-
peated the question. He received re-
ply from the colonel couched in sub
stantialy the same language used in
his previous answer.
Am / a boodler or am / note" asked
Craig for the third time.
THAT is not a question to be dis
cussed here. Unless you leave me ]
shall call the waiter and have you re-
moved" said the colonel, his anger ris-
ing.
Craig's response was made by giving
his former friend a smart slap across
the face accompanied by remarks cal
culated to arouse the anger of any.
After that the room and the persons
in it were in confusion. Craig bounded
toward the front door pursued by the
man he had struck. Failing to get
beyond the screens he tried to dodge
the colonel, who was in the aisle and
close behind him, by going between one
of the small tables and the wall Then
occurred what a spectator said was the
prettiest part of the melee.
Colonel Fitzsimmons, who Is a large
and powerful man, but is twice Craig $
senior caught the prancing deputy and
in a few seconds had him on the floor.
Holding Craig down with one hand
he struck him several times in the face.
Spectators Intcrfcrcd.
Previously, while Craig was seeking
to escape. Ed. Walsh the wholesale
liquor dealer and a friend to both par
ties, had called out to Craig to stand
and fight. But while the revenue man
was being so severely punished. Walsh
and another interfered. Colonel Fitz-
simmons submitted to their effort and
went at once to his room, upstairs.
With his face discolored and bleeding,
Craig picked himself up and was soon
hurried down the avenue to Mr..
Walsh's office. Leeches were obtained
from a nearby drug store and applied
to his eye, which, within few mo-
ments, had discolored badly. After a
long period of sousng with cold water
the deputy collector left Mr.. Walsh's
office, made the rounds of the places
where his friends are wont to congre-
gate and went to his hime, at 40 Lin
den street. A Tribune reporter called
at the house several times, but was
told that Mr. Craig was not in.
The letter containing the Doodle
charges and which appeared In Yester-
days Sunday News addressed to Rev
enue Collector Grant Herring was of
most damaging character. 1t made
specific charges that Craig Is a corrup-
zionist and betrays his own party for
gain. The letter closed as follows:
Comment Is uncalled for. Surely federal
ofIlcehoders ought to be faithful to the
party they represent. Mr.. Craig's ap-
pointment was an honest mistake. but
his continuance in office under the c!rcum-
stances, would be an insult and an out
rage upon the Democracy of this county.
Ninety-nine per cent. of the Democrats of
this locality feel that he Is unworthy to
hold the position that he does. If you de-
sire to investigate the charges | have
may require of me and II any one of them
is proven groundless / will withdraw all
of them and make a complete apology rs
publicly as | have made the allegations.
Respectfully yours,
+. j. Fitzsimmons.
Scranton, Pa, March G, 1895,
1t Is Not tho First One.
Last nights encounter recalls the
4. ~ TNl
simmons and Craig had dispute on
Lackawanna avenue, which ended in
Craig's being knocked or pushed
through q plate glass window. This
happened at an early morning hour
when the streets were deserted. The
only persons who knew of it were Peter
Zeigler, proprietor of the Elk cafe,
Sheriff Fahey, Frank Robling, jr.. and
the two policemen who ran up when
they heard the crash. The matter was
hushed up and the Plate Glass 1nsur-
ance company paid for the damage.
From this time Is dated the enmity
between the two prominent Democrats,
but their true feelings were kept from
the public until less than six months
ago. when in the Elk cafe Colonel lTitz-
slmons, in the presence of August and
Charles Robinson, charged Craig with
misapplying Democratic funds. Since
then the rupture has been quite marked
and physical encounter has not been
entirely unexpected for some time.
The friends Of the gentleman say that
last nights affair Is not the end of the
trouble. Before Craig disappeared last
night to where no one could find him,
he excitedly entered the Elk rooms on
Franklin avenue, walked hastily
through the several apartments and
then hurried down the stairs and into
the avenue. AS the colonel often fire.
nnenia the Elk rooms In the evening II