The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-26
RYANS USE OF THE RAWHIDE.
a FINE OF $3.50 THE PENALTY FOR
ASsAULTING JUDGE GOBER.

Ryan Says He Expected to Pay 81 ,5oH
for the Attack-After the Trial He
Remarked That lie Got Satisfac-
tion at Cut Rates-Ryan Denies
That He Attacked the Judge l'rOm
the Rear-The Story of the NOtOri ?
Gus Affair RetoId.
Atlanta. Ga. Jan. 25.-Stephen \. Ryan.
the ex-merchant prince of Atlanta, was
this afternoon fined $50 for the cowhidins
of Judge George L. Gober Of tho Blue
Ridge circuit which occurred here last
September The fire was imposed by
Judge W n Henry of the Rome circuit
who presided in the case in place of Judge
John s. Gambler.
John 3. Ryan. brother to the defendant
VINO is now in New York. telegraphed his
agent this afternoon to pay the fine and
1he attorneys fee and charge it to him.
The amount of the fine was less than
Ryan expected. Il am just about $50
ahead" was his remark when it was an
nounced. Later he said he would like TO
spend this $50 in the same way. He had
expected that the three lashes struck
across Judge Ciober's face would cost him
st least $500 a piece. and told his friends
after the trial that he had his satisfaction
at cut rates.
Ryan's case was the first one called in
the criminal superior court to-day. There
was a crowd on hand in expectation of
IT, and some looked for birthstone in the
proceedings. but there was no clash Of
any sort. Judge Gober was represented
by Solicitor General Hill, Messrs Arnold
and Arnold and Payne & Tye, a formid1-
bic array of legal talent. Assistant Dis
u Il
Mr.. Ryan.
Both Judge Gober and Mr. Ryan were
put upon the stand to recount the de-
tails of the affair between them and their
statements was the most interesting part
OF the trial.
The encounter between Judge Gober
and Mr.. Ryan occurred at the union de-
pot last September Judge Gober was
about to take the train for his home in
Marietta when Mr. Ryan appeared with
q cowhide in his hand and proceeded TO
use 1t vigorously. Three ugly cuts were
laid across the face of the judge, who re-
taliated with an umbrella. Judge Gober
took the position that the assault was
due to his judicial act in sending Mr.
Ryan to jail for contempt, when he failed
10 turn over certain alleged assets of his
store, which had been placed In the hands
of a receiver. Mr. Ryan remained in jail
thirteen months, and was finally released
by Judge Marshal j. Clarke. Judge Go
her declared that he had been attacked
from the rear without any warning and
this was shown by one of the witnesses
to-day, though the evidence was in pre-
ponderance the other way.
Mr.. Ryans account differed from that
of Judge Gober in several respects. He
declared that he attacked from the front,
and that he spoke several words before
striking the first blow. He also asserted
that the conduct of Judge Gober as judge
in sending him to jail had nothing to do
with the assault though he professed no
kind feelings toward him on that account.
The cause of the assault, he declared,
was remarks Judge Gober had made about
him. On the day of the assault, he said,
as he was passing through the Kimball
house, Judge Gober remarked to a friend:
There goes the blacklist scoundrel in
this town" AS soon as he heard
this remark he got his cownide
and set out to get satisfaction.