The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-31

Charged Jointly With Forgery.
Fx-connty Auditor Nathan Benan as
sauIfed Levi @. smith on FIrzt avenue yes
tsr1ay afternoon at q time when large
numbers % people were on the street.
many Of whom no doubt were discussing
the discharge OF ex-County Commissioner
Heaton and Joe Donian. on charges Of
forgery, 81 the very moddse that precipi-
fafed the encounter between thN ex-
auditor and his deputy. Neither party Is
at all injured as result OF the hostiiities
Smith getting out wkth a slight cut under
the eye, caused b. his Eyeglasses break
ting. and Beman escaping with sore jaw
and general shaking up.
War clouds have been lowering about
the beiilgerents for several months. but
not Until yesterday did they assume any
thing like actual warfare. Smith was
standing In front Of J. Redelsbelmer's
store. leaning against q post lie was con
verEing with friend, and totally oblivious
90 any danger. Beman was walking up the
ayeDue. also Ia company with friend As
he naared the middle OF Columbia street
he spied his enemy. and thought OF no
more appropriate time or place 10 settle
the grudge. Executing a flank movement
Smith was even aware Of his presence he
got "A Jolt on the head that partly knocked
OF his hat and broke one OF his eye
glasses "a piece OF which caused a slight
cut under the left eye.
Smith is near-Eighted. so Of course was
handicapped by the loss OF his Window
but nevertheless be could distinguish
enough OF his assaiiant 20 land on. and let
ting so a right cross-counter caught Be
man on the Jaw. sending him hack several
feet. The blow evidently did not reach the
vulnerable point. and Beman came back
full Of fight He made rush at Smith
bat was trlne Wild. Smith saw IL and
let 20 lefs hook, Ia FItzsimmons. land
ing on Beman's jaw. mis- time staggering
his former boss. At this juncture some one
I'm the crowd separated the men. friends
taking Beman down the street. and Smith
slipping into Redelsheimers store. where
he wiped the blood off his eye and other
wise adjusted his toilet
The crowd that ..ad gathered hung about
the sidewalk for time before dispensing
The excitement over. Smith walked out 70
the sidewalk. where he met friend. with
whom he stopped 20 talk, and TO whom he
told the story OF the trouble. They had
talked but few minutes when the friend
noticed lseman crossing Columbia street
In company with ex-Commissioner Fred
Gasch. He communicated this fact 20
Smith. who turned about 80 as 10 be on
hts guard. and not moment too soon, a.
EeInan was again upon him Smith pushed
him away. bH Beman was not 10 be de-
MED. and back he came again This time
Smith caught him In the face with a stiff
left. which staggered him At this juno
tare hystsnders inteTfered and separated
she fighters
Beman was taken In charge by by
riander. who tried TO reason with him. but
the fighting blood OF the ex-audttor was
aroused and he refused TO listen 20 any
reasoning. The bystander was persistent
however, and Bemau Just as persistently
refused 10 listen. all the time hurting cpl
theta at Smith and his friends that would
not look well In an account OF a revival
meeting. some OF these eplthets were di-
recied 20 the peace making hystander
who stood them wIln good nature untu one
too strong TO bear was thrown out ia a
little hluo-Coiored bunch Then he. too
lost his temper and took hand In the
hight. Friends iuteffered. but the by
stander got away and struck Beman In the
jaw. shaking him up considerably. Be
man showed a disposition 20 mix up. bat
right-hand uppercut sent him 10 the
ground with thud, Some one In the
crowd began counting of the seconds. but
Il was OF no Use. as the blow had Knocked
the ngbt out Of the ex-audttor. The
1ttAF NFfk WIN. the UiffNfF OF the heElt
doomed into slKht. his club raised and nos
tfiis extended, Rushing into the crowd. ne
picked out aenan as one OF the partIct-
Pants and walked him away from the
scene az battle. The presence OF the blue
coat had the effect of scattering the crowd
tia, had gathered 20 watch the fun.
What Bs-tsndrr saw.
The accounts ot The ffacas given BY hy-
ISLANDERS varies somewhat Ia detail. the
excitement % tho moment tcndins,. no
eanb,. 20 confuse them. Ar oaluoker who
saw the las pars OF the exhibition de.
seFihes u as fellows.
Il VS. attracted by the crowd on the
corner ard came up in time % hear Be-
man swear enerketlcaliv a. some "a ne
invisible opponent E3sman vas very rcd
~ he face. aad his eyes stood oar "a
shnslEh about - absn,fon their sockets
Friends were trying 30 draw aim away
Aeo --- ~~- are tfytng 90 throw re
down he said addressing gaose about
him. Every aasiy's against mo ard has IL
IT. for me. Then ] Eaw hy the actions Of
the crowd that enc Of the bystanae~s was
the principal against whom rs trade w.
directed. He looked rnad. Suddenly. at
the sound ~ A particularly crprohrta,s
eNtNet he shook or hose who vera n
tempting - cheek hlra. and rushed at
het3an. The cN-couoty auditor aieo
Esss4tts. tN.t " 80 HR'FF was MAX
change ~ blows. shr arms az me ~,
men heirx hamperef ~ thosc gathered
ntagst. Some one ca}1eA out. let hl-,
60" The words were har,ilv uttered NE.
the hystanteF shot forward anA MS ,,sts
stretched r'sat 0sf win ere wrIzhs 81 Ms
heetT behin3 E, caGEht Rensaa aaua~e 80
tween The eyes Remain AS gstker AN
considerably. h0t kept hls seet ans zen.
up a stream - profanity TAere was an.
other riSh another S'ckenirE Ia a-f
then 7 missed femsr'~ head BE has
fallen face forWaSs5 - 80 wroans Friends
picked aim uT and toak h.n aWav A ne
lice ofScer appeared ~ thts hacluse ana
TIE crowd Vas dispersed"
~mfth's Statement
Levi Smith was seeu on che street f.
SHORE time after ne fracas ~ q pe,s,-fs.t...
liEenccr reporter snd haH .hc folIrwlns IL
say ia regard - the matter.
y wns standing cn fhe corner 81 PRS
OF All the Tea