Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-18
ATTACKS Mr.. FISHER.
DISCHARGED CONDUCTOR ASSAULTS
THE sTREET-CAR MANAGER.
AFFAIR OCCURS ON BANK STREET.
The Railway Jagnate's Nose fs
Broken and He il Otherwise DIsng-
ured-The Attack the Result of bad
Feeling Engendered Months Ago.


Railway and Electric Company. assaulted
Mr.. George L. Fisher. general manager Of
the railway. in front of Rueger's, on
Bank street. yesterday. shortly before
noon. and knocking him down. beat him
severely about the face and head. splin-
tering the bones in his nose, and other
wise bruising him.
Mr.. Fisher emerged from tho office Of
Mr.. Andrew Pizzini, on Bank street, and
started up to Ninth to catch car. He
had gone but a short distance when Hob
son met him, and after a few words the
ex-Conductor began 10 rain blows on tie
face of his former employer. The first
blow knocked Mr.. Fisher down, but Hob
son did not desist until some one pulled
him off, and when he finally did so, and
Mr.. Fisher scrambled to his feet, the
latter was covered with blood, and his
face more closely resembled q piece OF
raw beef than anything else.
Hobson was joined by friend, who han
evidently been waiting for him and the
two walked off down Ninth street. MIR.
Fisher hurried back into the office of Mr..
Pizzini, and DR.. Michaux, the surgeon
OF the Richmond Railway and Electric
Company was sent for. lie dressed the
wounds and then removed his patient TO
the Jefferson, where he made nm as
comfortable as circumstances would per-
NIT. In the mean time, Magistrate
Grubbs was summoned and issued a war
rant for Hobsons arrest, charging MN
with felonious assault
MR.. FISHERS VERSION.
Mr.. Fisher was seen later in the day by
a Dispatch man, and though he was SUI
fering considerably from his bruises, nc
consented 10 make a statement OF the
affair Said he: Il never knew this man.
Hobson, until last July. lie then came 70
me and said he had an important matter
which he desired TO discuss with me.
This was on the street, and l was on my
way 10 fiji an important engagement a.
bank. / told HobsOn that / had Dut
minute in which TO keep my appointment
and that II he would call at my once
would see him. lie called and told Inc
q long story OF his alleged grievances,
asserting that he had been discharged
from the company's service without cause.
| told him he must see Mr.. Wilbur about
that. but he insisted that | was the man
to settle the matter He asked If ! wOulH
hear one Of his friends if he brought him
TO see me. 1 told him / would not de
then repeated his request, and asked ne
TO do so as a personal favor. / thereupoh
consented to see the friend, but though
two months have elapsed, Hobson never
returned TO my office.
HE KNEW HIM.
"He met me on Bank street to-day ana
asked if l recognized him. Certainly
do replied. He then said he wanted
10 sneak 10 me, and / told him | was Ia
a hurry 10 catch a car and would Sc nm
later. / think l added, at my Once.
started then TO go forward, but my toot
came in contact with something, Hob
sons foot, ] think, which impeded my
progress. and before l could recover my
self the man had knocked me down. lie
then sprdng upon me and began hammer
ing my nose with sledge-hammer blows.
| was given no time in which TO defend
myself. but | called out: stop, man;
what are you doingY He continued 10
beat me, paying no attention TO my cries
until some one, / could not see who on
account of the blood in my eyes, pulled
him off and | sprang 10 my feet"
HoBsoN's STATEMENT.
Hobson went to his home. No. 24OS east
Marshall street, after the difficulty, but
learning later that warrant was out
for his arrest, went 10 the First station
and surrendered himself. He was bailed
in the sum of $500 for his appearance In
the Police Court this morning, but prior
to leaving the station he made the fol-
lowing statement to a reporter;
Some months ago several men on the
First-Street line were discharged on the
report made by a man who had been en-
ployed to do some spotting' by man
named Otto, a Justice OF the Peace OF
Jackson Ward, who is well known as
'spotter' The 'spotter got on my car at
First and Broad streets on July 18th, and
took a seat by Mr.. Wren, 10 whom he
told his business, and asked Wren If
there was a man on the line whom he
did not want he would have him dis
charged.
"Wren replied that he liked all the men
on the line. The 'spotter' then replied
that he did not like Hobson, and that he
had his report made out with the eXcep-
ton of Hobson's badge and number. He
got off at Brooke road and made out
his report from the Lakeside end Of the
line | have the report, which Is false
from beginning 10 end.
"The following Sunday I was told by
Mr.. Wilbur that he had orders from the
general office TO hold me off. | told Mr..
Wilbur that knew how and when IL was
done. He then said he would look into
the matter for me. but when l asked II he
had done so he replied that he had not
had time.
II then went to see Mr.. Fisher, told
him how things were and he replied that
was not discharged, simply laid off. He
promised 10 look into the matter, but
never did so that ! know OF.
WHY HE STRUCK HIM.
"This morning / saw Mr.. Fisher on
Bank street. near Ninth. | approached
him and told him who ] was, and before
had finished telling what wanted he
very abruptly turned and said oh
have not got time to talk to you I !
then caught him by the sleeve and told !
him | wanted 20 talk business. Mr.. Fish |
er replied: 4 can't help that. l have no |
time to talk 10 YOU He was then stand !
ing in front of me and / struck him"
The case will probably be heard in the |
Police Court this morning II Mr.. Fisher !
is able TO be present Hobson Is about % |
wears old, compactly built, and has a /
good. open face. When at the station
house he appeared cool. and talked calm
ly and intelligently about the trouble II |
was known by the local officers OF the
Richmond Railway and Electric Com
pany that strong feeling prevailed |
among some OF the conductors against
Mr. Fisher. and that there was danger
NJ an assault being made upon him. He