The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-22
STEVE RYAN GOES FOR GoBER.
THE JUDGE ATTACKED WITH A
Housewife ON THE STREET.

Three Ugly Cuts inflicted on the
Judges Face-He Defends Himself
with an northumberland
Separate Them-Further Trouble
Feared-Rynn Accuses the Judge
of MaIigninE Him.
Atlanta, Ga. Sept I.-A great sensa-
ton was created here this afternoon by
the horse-whipping Of Judge Gober oy
Gober of the Blue Ridge circuit by
Stephen A. Ryan, a local capitalist Mr.
RYAN inflicted three deep cuts with the
lash across the face of Judge Gober, and
he had to be taken TO the Kimball house
and have his wounds attended TO by
physician
The encounter has been the only topic
of discussion about the hotels and public
places to-day. Both Judge Gober and Mr..
RYAN have been surrounded by their
friends this afternoon. They kept their
rooms until $50 O'Clock tonight when
ledge Gober left for Marietta, thus pre-
venting a further meeting. Cases Of dis
orderly conduct against both were made
by the police department and the cases
will be tried before the recorders court
+o-morrow morning. When the two came
dogether again Judge Gober's friends fear
that there will be boodshed, although
the Judge himself has kept cool and has
made no rash threats
The encounter occurred about O'Clock
this afternoon, on the street crossing op-
Dosite the Wall street entrance to
The Kimball house. Judge Gober
was in the act of boarding
the Western and Atlantic train for
his home. He was accompanied by Mr..
Gere of Marietta, and the latter had got
ten aboard the train which was moving
out, when Mr.. Ryan approached rapidly
from the hotel entrance, where he had
been waiting to catch sight of Judge Co
Der He carried new riding whip in his
hand holding it by the lash.
Judge Gober claims that Ryan hrst
struck him from behind. taking him com
pletely by surprise and stunning him Mr.
RYAN and eye witnesses, how ever, deny
this claiming that Ryan, though he APP
preached the judge from the rear, tapped
him on the shoulder to attract his at
tention before he began to ply the lash.
Editor Blackburn of the Evening Com
mercial who was only a few feet away
when the clash took place, corroboratcs
Mr.. Ryan.
A number of Judge Gober's friends were
IN town this afternoon, and more came
down on tO-nights train. 1t is reported
that they intended to visit vengeance upon
Mr.. Ryan, but no such trouble has as yet
occurred.
The direct cause of the assault was the
part Judge Gober took in the imprison-
ment of Mr.. Ryan for contempt Of court
several years ago, though Mr.. Ryan de-
clares that he did not resort to the horse
whip on account of the judicial acts of
Judge Gober at that time, but because he
has since that timc, as a private citizen,
been guilty of traducing his character
Five years ago Mr.. Ryan was the owner
of the largest retail dry goods establish
ment in the city, run under the name of
the Ryan Company" When he failed,
with liabilities Of something like 81 O0O0OO
and merely nominal assets, it was claimed
that the failure was fraudulent one.
In the absence of Judge Marshall j.
Clarke from the city Judge Gober was
called upon by creditors to hear the case.
He came to Atlanta, and after appointing
a receiver, he required Mr.. Ryan to turn
over to the court a large sum in cash as
sets, which the court declared he must
have somewhere in his custody or control.
Mr.. Ryan replied by stating that he
did not have such assets, and tried to
explain the accounts on his books by dis
closing a system of kiting by which fict-
tious assets were made to appear. Upon
this Judge Gober ordered Mr.. Ryan to
Jail, for contempt of court, in failing to
deliver the alleged cash assets. Ryan re-
manned in the Fulton county jail for four
teen months, when he was released upon
order of Judge Marshal ]. Clarke, who
after being authorized by the supreme
court to reopen the case on the facts as
they had been presented to Judge Gober
when he sent Ryan to Jail, held the oppo-
site and issued an order discharging him
of any contempt.
Mr. Ryan felt very bitter towards
Judge Gober because he though he had
deprived him of over year of liberty un-
justly and when he was released from
Jail some of his friends feared that he
would assault him. This was four or Ave
years ago. Since that Judge Gober and
Mr.. Ryan have met face to face dozens of
times and all fear Of troubles had passed
out of mind.
According to Mr.. Ryan's statement, hts
anger was renewed against Judge Gober
to-day by 1t coming to his knowledge that
the judge had been making dana ging re-
marks about his character since the
trial. while l was in Abe Frey's jew
elry store this morning." said Hr. Ryan
tonight, "a gentleman by the name OF
Smith entered, and in the course OF a
conversation which was INDUCED in be-
tween Mr.. Fry, DR.. Knott, John johnson