The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-12
HOT WORDS LED TO BLOWS.
CLERK AND EX-CLERK OF THE
CITY COURT IN A SET-TO.

Mr.. Bailey Considers That 8Ir. Col
Iins Had Reelected Upon Him in a
Statement TO the Executive COM
mittee That One of the Registrars
Had Been an OmcehOIder and Was
Seeking Omce-The Fighting Was
Quick and in Dead Earnest and
Both Men Drew Blood.
Clerk of the City Court J. 5. Collins
and Mr.. W. p. Bailey. one Of the county
registrars. engaged i'm lively interchange
of blows in the superior court room yes
terday.
The meeting Of the democratic execu-
tive committee had just adjourned and
nearly all the members had left the room.
During the progress Of the meeting Mr..
Collins, in answering an argument Of Col
n. W. Dixon's that the registration list
should be purged by the registrars and
not by the executive committee, because
several members Of the committee were
office holders, said that some members
of the opposition were candidates for
office, and one of the registrars to whom
Col. Dixon proposed to refer the regis
tration was an ex-office holder and is now
an office seeker.
the executive committee in the room,
with the exception of Secretary Sullivan
and Chairman duBgnon. and the report
ers were gathered around the secretary's
desk. Mr.. Bailey approached Mr.. Collins
and said:
What did you mean. sir. by that dirty
insinuatiOn against me?''
L made no insinuatiOn against you.
What do you mean2' replied Mr.. Collins.
You did" SAID Mr.. Bailey. You said
that one of the registrars was candidate
The reply and the reioinder We're too
quick to be caught. Both parties appear
ed TO feel they were insulted and in
moment they were striking at each other.
| Those present in the court room had no
idea that a difficulty was imminent, and
the two belligerents were allowed TO fight
for half a minute or more before any one
attempted to interfere. Then the report
/ ers took a hand and rushed in between
/ them. Both men had their blood up, how
| ever, and continued to strike each other
/ over the shoulders OF those who We're
! endeavoring to separate them. It took
perhaps half minute or more TO pun
! them apart Then it was seen that the
/ claret was pouring from Mr.. Collins nose
and there was a bump on Mr.. Bailey s
/ forehead from which the blood was ooz-
! ing: .,,-
/ hit me?" exclaimed Mr.. Collins to the
/ men who had hold of him.
| Mr.. Collins said he received the dow on
/
] ed hold of. While excited neither man dis
/ played any lack of nerve and both are Will
/ ing to continue the fight. A brief ana ang-
/ ~ cOlloquy followed.
| Mr.. Collins denied that he had made any
! insinuation against Mr.. Bailey.
! You said that one of the registrars was
/ a candidate for office and am one OF the
| registrars" said Mr.. Bailey. 49,
! care you not a candidate for my officer
| inquired Mr.. Collins.
Il am not a candidate for your office, -
| was the reply II intend to help place
! Phil Russell in your office, though"
! There were some other remarks and Mr..
| Bailey was taken out Of the side door by
| Mr. duBignon while Mr. Collins was kept
| in the court room by those there.
| The affair occurred so quickly and with
| so little noise that none of those outside
| in the corridor or down stairs knew any
| thing of it, and the majority of the men,
| bers of the executive committee left the
| building without knowing that the diff
| Guilty had occurred. It became noised
| around the streets shortly, however, and
| was generally discussed. No warrants
| We're issued and no request was made for
| any arrest at the police barracks and it is
not expected that the difficulty win be re-
| newed.