Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-15
An Important Law Suit.

genuine fighting man. While it would
be too much. perhaps, to claim that Mr..
Stone is really entitled to place in the
gallery of heavy weights now occupied
by Jeffreys, Corbett, Fitzsimmons.
| Sharkey and other great lights of the
| fistic profession, it must be conceded,
| if reports are true, that he possesses
an indomitable and martial spirit that
makes him an antagonist to fight shy
of. No one will, we believe, be disposed
to charge the doughty ex-governor
with too strict an adherence to either
Marquis of Queensbury or the London
Prize Ring rules. He appears to be-
| lieve in a harmonious concert of fists
and feet as the most desirable mode of
polishing off an opponent.
1t is truly astonishing thing that a
man of his attachments should be sued
for 100000 But this is the experience
he is now undergoing-and all because
Of an unapprecative reporter, who
|
will never be known just what this
luckless scribe did to arouse the ire of
Ex-Governor Stone: but there appears
to be no question that such was his
misfortune. Perhaps he was lacking
in tact, possibly he was insolent, ana
he may even have parted his hair IN
the middle. 1t may have been none of
these offences but that the eX-gover-
nor was merely filled with righteous in
| dignation at the name he bore. TIL.
true facts will perhaps come out at the
trial. Whatever they may have been,
however. Mr.. Reavis asserts with con-
siderable emphasis that the former
chief executive not only assaulted him
but called him vile names,
| From the complaint it appears that
two assaults We're actually made upon
| Mr. Reavis-if we are to credit his
| statements-one on the ninth and the
other on the sixth floor. As it is reason
able to assume that Mr.. Reavis did no
climbing in his fight, it is fairly safe
to conclude that the first meeting took
place upon the ninth floor. 1t may be
that the Missouri law unlike that of
Maine-as modernizcd by recent de-
cision of our supreme court-requires
i man to avoid trouble to the full ca
pacity of his legs. and admits of no
manly self-defence." If this is so 1t
would appear from the statement of
Mr. Reavis that he was entirely law
abiding. He should have no trouble
| therefore.-if the ex-governor does not
prove an albi-in recovering for the
assault upon the ninth floor.
| Whether or not he should be awarded
anything for his experiences on the
sixth floor, is a knotty question, and
one which will call for discriminating
judgment upon the part of the jury,
after a full hearing of all the facts
bearing upon the case. II may be in
ferred that Mr.. Reavis is a younger
man than Mr.. Stone and should, there
fore, be capable, under ordinary con-
ditions, of greater agility and speed.
| Whether or not he exerted himself to
the utmost in keeping ahead of the
procession is a matter of great moment
in the determination Of this part Of the
| case, and will call for the very careful.
| consideration Of the twelve peers who
will be burdened with its decision.
There will also be the further question
I-One of great Importance in determining
the legal status of the case-of whether
or not there We're at hand external
means by which Mr.. Reavis could have
further accelerated his flight For in
stance We're there banisters on the
three flights of stairs down which Mr.
Reavis sped before he was overtaken
by the irate ex-governor. If so. why
did he not coast upon them instead of
depending wholly upon his feetness of
foot? Could he not indeed have
caught an early elevator, or. arriving
too late for this, what was there to pre-
vent him from sliding down the cable ?
, If any or all of these aids to CELEBRITY
were at hand, was not Mr.. Reavis
guilty of contrihutory negligence lin
failing to avail himself Of them? All
: of these. questions are close and per-
picking ones and will call for all
of that intelligent perception and. jul
dicial acumen that has long been char
acteristic of Missouri juries. OF course
the verdict will be. eagerly awaited by
newspaper men and attorneys all over
the country. 1t must be admitted that
the outcome-even with a Missouri jury
is somewhat in doubt. 1t is difficult,
however, to see at this time--if the al
legations of Mr.. Reavis are correct
just how the ex-governor can avoid
; settling, at least for the assault upon
the ninth floor.