The San Francisco call., 1897-06-04
ASSAULT upon
AN ATTORNEY
Lawyer Armstrong At
tackled and Beaten in
His Office.
L. E. and NJ. Alexander and an
Unknown Woman His
ASsailants.
Tie Encounter the Outcome Of a Law.
suit for the Collie c.ion of
Money.

An exciting personal encounter took
place yesterday afternoon in the office of
Attorney A. NJ. Armstrong, on the sixth
floor OF the Chronicle building. Mr.. Arm
strong was engaged IN conversation with
a lady client in his Office at about half
past o'clock when two men-L. E. Alex
ander and NJ. Alexander-and a woman
appeared at the door ard we're about to
enter. The attorney requested them to
wait until he was not engaged, but they
declared they would not. Mr.. Armstrong
recognized them As people with whom he
had previously had trouble, and, knowing
what they had come for, prepared to de-
fend himself.
According to Armstrong; account the
elder of the two brothers tried to get
around back Of him while the younger one
stood at the door and proceeded 10 pull a
pistol from his pocket. The attorney en-
deavored to reach the elder brother, in
tending to hold him between the man
with the gun and himself but in trying to
do so slipped and fell, striking upon a
chair as he fell. Upon recovering he
jumped for the younger brother with the
older one on his back all the while. The
attorney struck the younger man over the
'
rendering him for the time semi.uncon-
scious.
the woman then came TO the aid of the
men, and the tbrse proceeded to scratch
and pummel the unfortunate attorney.
When finally crowd came in, attracted
bv the com lotion, and the contestants
were separated, Attorney Armstrong had
a number of cuts scratches and bruises
about his face as a reminder of the melee.
II bad tough tussle," said the attoT-
ney, when seen in regard to the affair last
night, land considering the odds against
me | think l escaped quite luckily. ] am
convinced that they not only came with
the inten ton of doing me harm, but that
the younger one. who had the pistol, in
tended to kill me. The older brother
have had dealings with before and l
know him to be a coward. but the younger
one was fully determined 10 kill me,
believe.
"The trouble of which this scaffle was
the elimination dates back some time.
Two years ago while was conducting
private .echooi at HollIster l bought
typewriter OF the Alexanders at a reduced
rate. Aiterward they demanded the full
price, which amounted 10 some $50 more.
They brought suit against me for the
amount through Jake Rauer, but the case
was dismissed.
"A few days ago they had Rauer bring
SUIT dRdtut he lOlU tneIu Ln6y
coRld not recover the amount. Wishing
10 put an end to the matter and not de-
string 10 have them dismiss the case as
they had done before, merely to annoy me
again at some future time, | filed a cross
complaint demanding $3.50 damages for
the false suit they had brought and like
amount of damages Tor having on one oc-
casion entered my office wit out my per-
mission and rummaged through my pa
peTs.
"On this occasion they represented to
the janitor of the building that they had
been sent by me TO get and repair type
writer machine in the office. They went
through my desk, doubtless intending to
get possession of the receipts and docu-
ments IN the case.
Besides this, few days ago l incurred
the anger of the elder brother by COM
pelling him TO leave the office of Miss
Busteede, typewriter who was formerly
ployed in this office and whom Alex
anu Ter was insulting at the time. Although
he then apologized, he evidently felt very
bitter toward me.
"These people have been troubling me
in many ways. They have come at vari-
Gus times to annoy me here at the Office
where l am employed and have tried 10
have me discharged.
Il have not taken steps as yet for the
arrest of my assailants, but will probably
do so. Their assault upon me was evil
denJly with more serious intent than to
beat me, and / consider myself fortunate
in not having been murdered"