Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-02-25
LOST HIS TEMPER.
Auditor Hargravc Foraets His Dig
nifty and Assaults Editor Norris

Because of an article that appeared in.
the columns of the Fines Republican
on Saturday evening in the Local
Comment department., and In reference
TO the regrettable scandal concerning
the county book contract. Mr.. D. w.
Norris, Jr, editor-in-chief of the IT, X :,
was assaulted on the street at about
7::25 o'clock Saturday evening by Goun-
~ Auditor +. w. Hargrave, who evil
IDENTIFY took the article as personal to
himself and was angered TO such a de-
gree that .,othing short of violence
would satisfy him.
Altho he assault is generally regret
ted and was a tritiing affair,
Mr.. Hargrave being too angry to
command his arms and fists. it is likely
that more serious consequences might
have resulted had 1t not been for a by
stander. Night Operator Tony Bucklin,.
of the Postal Telegraph Company who.
stepped in between the men While Mr..
Hargraye was saving the air in. a vain
attempt to land on Mr.. Norris person.
ii appeared to Mr.. Bucklin and to am.
other bystander that the assault was in
all probability premeditated, as Mr..
Hargrave was waiting on the corner of
Center and Main streets. knowing that
Mr.. Norris was on the way to his Office
upon the request of Mr.. Hargrave Mr.
Hargraye had removed his coat and. in
striking at Mr.. Norris from the rear as
they were walking south on Center,
threw his coat over the iron railing that
protects the stairway leading into the
Robinson billiard hall. Mr.. Norris not
caring to engage in street brawl.
made no attempt to return the blows.
but instead simply busted himself with
protecting himself. AS Mr.. Norris did
not receive even so much as scratch
in the encounter he did not deem 1t
necessary to resort to legal retaliation
and Mr.. Hargrave was not arrested.
Mr.. Norris. when asked about the af-
fair, said: II can now sympathize with
the daily callers We have In our office
with requests TO keep some thing out of
the paper, but know, just what you
boyswill say. 80 III do as every one else
ought to do, tell the straight of it. When
was eating supper Saturday evening
Mr.. Dotson teephoned me saying that
Mr.. Hargrave had been in the Office to
see me- told Mr. Dotson 10 tell him I
would be there at 7:30. At about 7:25,
when on my way TO the office, II met Mr..
Hargraye on Center street, near the
barber shop entrance under the City
National bank. I saw that his overcoat
vas thrown over his shoulders like a
cape. but supposed he had just been
down to the office. 1said: Good eve
ming, Fred. Jap says you want to see
me. Come down to the Office" / walked
along and he walked with me on my
right, but Jagged behind as tho he did
not want to go to the Office. He asked
me who wrote the piece about the book
business and said that Ibid. He then
asked me what meant by 1t, and re-
Piled Just about what IT said. His
voice did not indicate anger, and ex-
pected no trouble. but the next thing
knew. without another word received
q light blow on the side of the head.
Walking perhaps half a pace behind me
l did not see him strike, but he had
made an outward stroke with his left
arm. Coming from above, as he is tall
or than l, 1t was warded of by the stiff
rim of my hat, brushed my glasses off,
but did no harm. quickly turned to
face him, just in time to dodge an over
hand stroke of his right arm. In the
dim light of the billiard hall street
lamp could see that he was stripped of
his overcoat for action. Az my ships
hau not YET gone INTO commission 4 was
not ready for battle. My winter ulster
was buttoned tight around me, my
yarn mittens were on and my guns were
not swung into position. so depended
upon the thickness OF my arrnor plate.
He quickly followed up his onslaught
With six or seven blows. which man
aged to parry with no harm to either OF
u.s. Then young man interfered to
stop the fight. ] told Fred that he had
better be careful or would expose the
whole business. He said he didn't care.
and called me the usual name an angry
man uses when he wants a fight. i did
Aot desire to engage in street brawl,
% turned and walked away"
When asked II Mr.. Hargrave would
be prosecuted Mr. Norris said: mo. /
think that Fred ID heartily ashamed OF