The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-19
ORTIZ STEMS FACE SLAPPED.
SOLICITOR O'NEL DELIVERS THE
BLOW.

An Article in STEMS Paper Reflect
ing on the Course of the Solicitor
in the Case Of the Savannah Poker
Players the Cause of the Trouble.
Article Represented the Solicitor
rs Posing as the Friend of the Sa-
vnunah Poker Players and Yet
Hauling Them u in order TO Get
His Part of the Fine Imposed.
Atlanta. Ga. Dec 1S.-The recent. arrest
Of several Savannah gentlemen for indulg-
ing in a little game of poker at the Kim
bah house, was the indirect cause of a
personal difficulty this afternoon that may
have a dramatic ending. Editor o. II.
Stein of the Looking Glass, a sensational
weekly publication of the Town Topics
order. and Hon. James F. O'NeI, solicit
tor of the city court, were the principals
in the encounter, which took place in the
lobby of the Kimball house in the pres
once of the usual crowd that gathers there
toward the close of the day.
o Solicitor O'NeiI was the aggressor. There
was but one blow struck, and he was the
author of it. 1t was a singing slap with
the open hand delivered with an insulting
intent upon the side of Editor STEMS
jaw. Solicitor O'Neil was waiting in the
lobby for the editor to come down from
the Kimbau house dining room. When
Stein appeared the solicitor stepped up
to him, and with the remark, You pub
hshed a ID lie in your paper this aft
ernoon," delivered a resounding slap on
his face.
Immediately there was a scene of OK
element in the lobby, as Editor Stein
threw his hand back to his pocket evil
IDENTIFY with the intention of drawing a
pistol He was seized by bystanders,
while others surrounded Mr.. O'Neil to pre-
vent the two from a serious collision. Po-
licemen were called in and Stein was taken
to the station house, but later released
the charge against both being disorderly
conduct. Both are believed to have been
armed. and, from STEMS reputation as
shooting man. it is a wonder that there
was not bloodshed. He has already killed
one man. and is generally regarded as
dangerous one. His friends do not believe
that he Will rest under the insult offered
by Solicitor O'Nei in slapping his face,
and a bloody finale is looked for when
ever the two meet again. Editor Stein
matter was not al an end
The trouble was brought on by the pub
LEGATION of an article in STEMS paper this
afternoon dealing with the arrest and fin
ing of the Savannahians for poker play
ing. Stein severely criticized both Judge
Berry of the city court and Solicitor
O'Nen He said they had not given the
Savannah gentlemen a fair deal, and al
legged that there was a movement afoot
to retaliate by prosecuting Judge Berry
and Solicitor O'Nel for poker playing at
the Oglethorpe hotel at Brunswick last
summer
Stein once ran paper in Savannah and
was in sympathy with the luckless poker
players of the Citizens Club. In his article
he made il appear that Solicitor ONeil,
while posing as the friend of the Savan-
nahians, nevertheless refused to allow the
cases against them to be nolle pressed,
but insisted upon pea and fine, out of
which he took his usual fat costs. This is
what angered Solicitor ONeil, more than
the covert charge that he and Judge Ber-
ry had been violating the gaming laws,
and should be prosecuted. He was willing,
he said, 10 nolle prOss fhe cases, but Judge
Berry declined to permit it, and insisted
upon levying the usual fine.
Mr.. O'Neil is one of the most popular
young men in the city His nerve is I'M
questioned.
Editor STEMS record as a dangerous
man has heretofore held the irate victims
of his pen in subsection. The affair has
been talked of everywhere tonight, and
everybody is apprehensive of more serious
trouble