The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-11
Mr. ChcsSman Made an
Attack on Mr.. Church.
BLOWS FELL RAPIDLY.
Assallant Says He Was Justified In
Furnishing Church.
LATTER USED FOUL EPITHErs.

There was quite a lot OF excitement
I'm the hallway OF the Bank OF North
America building, As Weybosset street,
this, morning, and for short time pas
sersby were startled TO see two men
engaged In a violent tussle inside the
haliway, near the elevator, one oi
whom appeared to be receiving a num-
ber of lusty blows from a WHIP neiu oy
the other, the blows being iaiu on Win
no sparlng hand.
The men engaged in the fracas were
Mr.. Merton Chessman, private secre-
tary to Col. s. p. Colt, president OF the
Industrial Trust company, ana butier
y. Church. who Is q clerk In the em-
ploy Of the state board of health, which
occupies offfces in the top story OF the
building where the horsewhipping TOOK
place. The elevator man made every
effort to separate the two combatants
and finally succeeded
Mr.. Chessman when seen In his once
IN the annex Of the Industrial trust
company building, was. quite cool, and
made NO attempt to deny the aHair.
neither, he said, did he care TO poast
OF IT, He said that he had been grossly
OUTRAGED and insulted by Mr.. Church.
and considered that he was authorised
in adopting the course he had taken:
and. in fact, he claimed that ne diu
not consider the punishment inflicted
upon Mr.. Church was any 100 severe
for the offence.
BROKE HIS WHIP.
Mr.. Chessman said: II horsewhipped
and horsewhipped him hard until my
whip was broken over. his neck and
shoulders. He has outraged and In.
suited me for some time, put why a
cannot conceive, unless. perhaps, IL Is
because / do not take any notice OF
him. although know and respect some
Of his relatives. Last night there was
: smoker at the house Of the Nara
raneett Boat club on the banks OF the
Seekonk, and Church, who Is mem
ber OF the club. was there. ! live IN
the close vicinity OF the CLUB mouse. ana
at about Has o'clock Church came up
near the window OF the room In when
/ was in bed and shouted a most vile
epithet, coupling my name with II.
"TIe shouted so loud that people re-
siding in the Immediate neighborhood
must have heard his vile and hlthy
Language, and then and there deter
mined to put stop to his Insults Ios
Il was not the first time that he had
done such things, and on eneE occasion
he tried to damage the premises on
which l live. This morning 1 brought
NV riding whip down street with me
And went to the Bank Of North Amer
fca building and waited until Cnurcn
came down lin the elevator AS soon as
he appeared told him that had come
TO chastise him, and commenced 10 DO
80 without any delay.
NO RETURN BLOW STRUCK.
II meant to punish him, and did 30,
ana he never struck q blow In return,
as vou can plainly see for there Is not
Single mark upon me, except this
blood on my left shirt cuff, and II Is
not my blood. Church did get the whip
away from my grasp once, but got IL
back from him Immediately and con.
tinued the castigation. That Is all
there ID to the matter. and, while 1 re-
rret the affair on account OF the talk
which must necessarily ensue. 1 have
no regret for having punished Church,
for consider he deserved the treat
Ynent he received at my hands"
The elevator man employed In the
Bank Of North America building saw
the whole trouble and endeavored to
stop Il. but he declines to say anything
about it, clalming that 1t was some-
thing which did not concern him.
Two attempts were made to see Mr..
Church at the office OF the state board
or health, but he could not be found,
other employees stating that he was out.
and they could not say exactly when
ne would return. Up to o'clock this
afternoon the affair had not been re-
ported to the police, although Mr..
Chessman said ne would not be sur
prised X II should be.