El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-05
SLIGHTLY STABBED
A. P. Coles and T. B. Dock
cry Had a Dispute and
Finally Came to
Blows.

a difficulty yesterday afternoon at
4:3O O'Clock between A Z. Coles and
Thos. B. Dockery the two well known
business men, caused quite f'utter
of excitement ON the streets and no
end of gossip.
Fortunately neither Mr.. Coles nor
Mr.. Dockery was seriously injured.
Mr.. Dockery was truck with cane
and the cane was badly shattered and
Mr.. Coles was slightly stabehd in the
office erasing knife.
The two gentlemen met by the mer-
est chance at the head of the stair
way on the second floor Of the Coles
Hubbell building. Mr.. Coles, whose
back was injured several days ago.
has been compelled to use small
cane in walking and had it with him
Yesterday when he met Mr.. Do kerry
Both gentlemen admit that i'll will
has existed between them for some
time, due in a measure to the election
of bank directors and also to the fact
that Mr.. Coles accused Mr.. Dockery of
attempting to hire his bookkeeper.
Yesterday when they met an alter
cation ensued. A man who was by
the merest chance 4 spectator to the
start and finish of the trouble de-
scribed the fight OF a Herald reporter.
Said he: "As 1 passed down from
the third floor of the building Mr..
Coles was standing with his heels less
than three inches from the f.on. stair
case leading to the San Antonio street
entrance He held his cane in his
right hand and was partly facing Mr..
Dockery, who was less than foot
away. Both men appeared to be ex-
cited and their language ,cward one
another was more forcible than ele-
CANT
Not expecting trouble I pushed my
way by Mr. Coles, who almost blocked
the head of the stairway, and descend
ed. Mr. Coles perilous position in
case he was struck or pushed was ap-
parent, for had he lost his balance a
fall down the steps awaited him.
Il did not hear all that was said, for
] was not particularly interested, but
as 1 passed heard Mr.. Coles say, You
are not in my class at all. 1 want no
trouble with you, but if you want any
thing out of me you can get It
Il was probably two thirds of the
way down to the street when the fight
started. 1t must have lasted less than
a minute There was the sound of
heavy blows and the crash of break
ing walking cane. 1 had no more than
time to turn my head to look back up
the stairway when Mr.. Coles lost his
balance, hastily descended some dis
tance. He carried a remnant of his
broken cane in his hand and Dockery's
battered derby was on his foot. don't |
know how the hat got on Mr.. Coles
foot. 1 don't think he knew himself, |
but it was there.
After he had managed to check his /
fall down the steps, which was a few
yards above me, the first thing he did
was to kick his foot free from the hat.
The derby was a total wreck.
Il think it was Mr.. Coles intention /
to return and renew the attack. but ~ |
that time persons occupying OFFICES
above had rushed out and hustled |
away.
% L am cut in the backH said Mr..
Coles. He stuck the blade of his
knife in my back!'
Il looked for blood, but saw none; |
Mr. Coles walked on toward his office
for the purpose of securing surgical
attention.
His wound was afterwards reported
to be but slight"
Dockery's Statement.
According to Mr.. Dockery the affair
came up originally over his proposal,