The times., 1897-03-26
PAINE PUNCHED GARDNER
A Pension Office Clerk Assaulted
by a Druggist.
HIS FACE BADLY BRUISED
The Druggist Wanted an Apology
for Alleged Aspersions Against
Him, and, Not Getting 1t, Used
His Fists-A Warrant for Assault
Has Been Sworn Out.

Jeremiah A. Gardner, a Pension Office
| clerk, yesterday swore out warrant
| against j. Nelson Paine, who owns the
| drug store at the corner of First and X
streets northeast, for an assault, which he
| alleges Paine committed upon him last
| Wednesday afternoon.
The affair, which was witnessed by a
| large number of persons, occurred at the
east front OF the Pension office at about
O'Clock.
MIR. Gardner had just left the office, and
was mounting his wheel when he was ap-
preached by Paine, who said that he wished
| TO speak with him
Il have no business with you and don't
care TO have any conversation was the
reply.
AT this Mr.. Paine gave the bicycle a
push which sent the rider spra wiling to
the grouad. A large crowd assembled IA bout
the pair, but no one attempted to interfere.
Mr. Paine, so Gardner claims, did not wait
for him To regain his feet, but as he was
trying TO diSengage himself from the wheel
struck him full in the jaw, knocking him
down again.
He followed this with bio W after blow
oh Idlt, Sbuttuucu NIL III
telling the story, but, as he is the larger
man, made no attempt at defense, but
attempted to escape from my cowardly
assailant
This finally did, but not before he had
covered my face with blood from cuts in
flcted by a signet ring which he wore on
the hand with which he struck me-
A friend of the druggist gave the fol-
When Mr.. Paine made hisfirst remark
he said, Gardner replied with an oath,
telling him TO get out OF the way or he
would ride over him. Then, after he had
been Knocked down, he got up and pat his
wheel behind him as If he were preparing
for fight.
Mr.. Paine then said: 4 gave you thirty
days To apologize for your aspersion agalnst
my wife. That's long enough for any de-
cent man. Now, want to know what you
intend TO do, because if you do not apollo
gize I'm going TO thrash you. The thirty
days are up today; that's why I'm here
Gardner said something, but it was so
low that l didn't catch it, but he drew
back his fist, and what happened next
came quick it made you catch your
breath. Paine just lit out one from the
shoulder, and you could hear the sound OF
his fist as ii struck Gardners Jaw, like
pistol shot. He went down in a heap ON
the pavement, and when he got up again
there was blood all over his face and he
had cut that went from his chin up to
the point of his jaw. The young fellow had
n seal ring on his finger, and that's what
did it.
As far as l could see Gardner never hit
him once, INT the way the other one worked
his fists was a caution. First it was one
hand and then the other, and every time
be landed the blood flew. He caught Gard
ner one on the nose and another in the
mouth, which cracked his lips.
1T did not take more than a minute
altogether, and ii was the quickest and
the hottest fight l eversaw. Gardner broke
away and started for the building, but
the other fellow caught him by the arm
and turned him around and smashed him
again. Then he let him go.''
Mr.. Paine in giving his reasons for max
ing the assault, said that his wife had
told him of al accusation of infidelity
which Gardner mad made against him.
When he confronted the latter with this, he
denied the story, and accused Mrs. Paine
ofteling a falsehood.
Il gave him thirty days to retract his
statements and apologize" Mr.. Paine
continued, and when he did not do that l
thrashed him as l promised"
Mr. Gardner, when seen at his residence,
No. 626 Seventh street northeast, said:
This matter is all the outcome of a mis-
take. Paine and his wife have been on
the outs for some time, and her Jealousy
caused her to accuse him of infidelity
When she was asked where she received
her information, she became frightened
and said ! had told her, whereas L had
not even spoken to her about the matter
''This was about the 9th Of February
last, and that night Mr.. Paine came to
me and asked me if l had made such a
statement.
when l replied in the negative he be-
came very abusive. He said he would
see his wife again and If he found that
she had lied to him he would beat her.
If, on the other hand, he found that her
story was true, he threatened to thrash
me.
II intend to push this charge of assault
against him, and furthermore, having wit
nesses i'll the persons of my wife and
housemaid to the threats which he made
against me, shall have him bound over
to keep the peace"