The San Francisco call., 1897-10-31
Ex-Judge Harris Slabs John
E. Raker With a Pocket
Knife.
lNFLICTS FIVE WOUNDS
UPON HIS FOE.
Bloody ARRAY Interrupts Trial
Before a Judge of the
Superior Court.
Special Dispatch 10 The CALL

bing affray took place within the bar of
the Modoc County courtroom at Alturas
Oh Wednesday. District Attorney Raker
was stabbed with a pocket-knife by ex.
Judge Harris five times before Sheriff
Cummings could separate them.
During The progress of q trial in the Su
perior Court, District Attorney Raker,
who was examining q witness. was inter
rupted by an objection from Attorney
Stewart, which was sustained by the
court. The District Attorney then
launched into TRADE of abuse against
ex-Judge Harris, who was connected with
the case, accusing him OF trying to ia m
per with a witness. Attorney Stewart
again objected, declaring that Harris was
not on tIiai, and that he did not propose
to have his clients interests jeopardized.
He begged the Judge to confine the Dis
trict Attorney 10 the issues of the case.
The court ordered Raker to cease his
abusive harangue.
Paying no attention to the order of the
court, District Attorney Raker, infiamed
with anger and wrought mp to the highest
pitch. continued his torrent OF lnvective,
concluding with the declaration that ex-
Judge Harris had caught hold OF a
woman on the street, and he could prove
it." and intimating that the Judge was
mpelIed by an immoral and unlawful
motive.
Ex-Judge Harris sprang to his feet and
po. nting his finger at Raker shouted:
But / never seized hold of an innocent
girl in my house"
In the midst of the great disorder which
prevailed In the courtroom District A tor
ney Raker made a rush for Harris. Sheriff
Cummings jumped over the ratings, but
before he could reach them the infuriated
men closed upon each other. Raker
struck out viciously at harris, but the
blow glanced off his head, staggering the
ex-Judge, though not inf1icting any in
jury.
Harris made lunge at Raker with an
open pocket-knife. He struck Raker five
times, iniicting a wound at each thrust.
One blow sent the blade into the corner of
Raker's mouth and 1t passed diagonally
across the cheek and neck, laying the fie IN
open to the bone. Another thrust landed
on top of the District Attorneys head, in
ficting bad scalp wound. Besides these
and an ugly wound in the hand, Raker
received two slashes in the chest Had it
not been for the heavy ciothirg worn by
the District Attorney the latter two
wounds would have proved fatal.
This was all done in an instant, before
the Sheriff could reach and separate the
men. Sheriff Cummings jumped between
them, and with the assistance of specta-
tors forced them apart. Blood was stream
ing from the District Attorneys face, and
the ex-Judge was bespattered as well.
Judge Harris was Immediately placed
under arrest, but was released later on,
with bail in the sum of $500.
1t was feared thai the District Attorney
had been fatally wounded. but after a
hasty examination by physicians it was
a ascertained that his wounds were not dan
gerous unless blood poisoning should set
in. He was conveyed to his home, and at
last accounts was resting easily.
John E. Raker, the wounded man, is a
son-in-law of Judge Spencer OF Lassen
County. and has beer District Attorney
OF Modoc County for several consecutive
terms. He has stood high in pubic
esteem, but since the discovery of the de-
facation of John Madden, Modoc Coun-
tvs Treasurer, who recently abscondei
with $50, 900. he has come in for great
deal OF adverse comment.
e. f. Harris was formerly Judge OF the
Superior Court OF Modoc County. having
held the office for number of terms.
Harris was The instigator of the trouble
which led to the killing of Saloon-keeper
Franck, noted character of Modoc
County, number OF year. ago. Franck
was shot dead by J. w. Harrington. the
present Supe rior Judge of Modoc County.
while in the act of drawing a knife with
which TO attack Harrington. Harris was
then occupying the Superior bench. but
was retired in disgrace at the succeeding
election. Judge Harrington, on the other
hand, is in high favor with the people of
Modoc county, and has made an admir-.
able record as Judge OF the Superior
Court.
The dramatic exclamation of ex-Judpe
Harris, But l never seized hold of an
innocent girl in my own house." was
prompted by the fact that District Attor.
ney Raker was recently accused of a Sc.
rious charge preferred by young girl.
He was, however. acquitted.