The San Francisco call., 1896-10-17
BLOWS STRUCK
IN NAPA ASYLUM
DR.. Gardner and Assistant
Physician Bowles
Clash.
Lively Encounter in Which Both
Men Are Bruised and
Battered.
DIFFERED AS TO METHODS.
The Superintendent Declares That
His Antagonists Reason Is
Tottering.
DIFFERED AS TO METHODS

NAPA, CAL, Oct. 16.-For several
months past the friendly relations form
erly existing between the members of the
medical fraternity at the insane asylum in
this city have been decidedly strained and
this condition eliminated yesterday in a
fight. the ultimate result of which will
probably be that one or the other of the
contestants will be called upon to resign.
1t is also claimed that the bone of con-
tention was a matter of policy in the
administration of certain wards of the
institution. At all events DR.. A. M. Gard
ner and Assiatant Resident Physician 6.
R. Bowles had hand-to-hand conflict, in
which DR.. Gardner received severe blow
from a manzanita club in the hands OF
Bowles and the latter severe pummel-
ing from the fists of DIR. Gardner. The
local attendants were obliged to interfere
and separate the infuriated combatants.
DR.. Gardner's story of the battle is as
follows: Gas stepped into DR.. Bowles'
department, just previous to the trouble,
| picked up a small feather duster and
began to brush the dust from my shoes
While doing so DIR. Bowles said:
"'See here, Gardner, you might as well
understand ole thing at this time as well
as at any other time, and that is that you
can't come into my department and
brush the dirt off of your shoes. II you
want to do that get out
'For a moment I was thunderstruck,
and then l replied:
f" Why. doctor, 1 haYe always been
accustomed to do this
GAS soon as I said that DR.. Bowles
nhod nm 10 Haek nj q
manzanita club, some three feet in length,
and started toward me. Seeing the use
lessness of trying to avoid him, l ran at
him. throwing up my arm TO defend my
head. The main force of the blow, which
was delivered with all the strength that
the doctor could muster, landed on my
arm, nearly breaking the bone, and I was
also struck across the side of the head,
and as you can see my eye is greatly dis
coiored. / consider that | saved my life
by throwing up my arm. Had the blow
landed fully on my head it would have
killed me.
II then closed with Bowes and struck
him several blows with my fist, and at
this moment the attendant ran in and
separated US. disarming my opponent. |
really cannot conceive why this attack
was made upon me in this entirely un-
cailed-for manner as our personal rela-
tions have always been friendly, although
at times we have differed in policy. 1 can
only account Tor the attack on the ground
that by constant contact with insane
patients DR.. Bowles has become mentally
incapacitated."
This morning DR.. Gardner left this city
for Sacramento, where he will lay the
matter before Governor Budd and demand
an investigation.
DIR. Bowles was seen tonight in refer
ence to the encounter between himself
and DR.. Gardner. He said: II am sorry
that the affair occurred, but can say posi-
lively that nothing was done on my part
that | thought unbecoming a gentleman.
l cannot say less and at present will not
say more