The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-08-02
FIGHT IN COURT.
Opposing Attorneys at GAINESVILLE
Exchange Shots.
Three Persons Wounded Bad Mark
manship Saves Their Lives.

Clarksville, Tenn, July 26.-Sitting
as Special Chancellor, Thomas +. Mar.
tin this morning heard a motion To dis
solve an injunction granted TO Mrs. Dora
Dlll growing out of "a lawsuit which
sprang from divorce case. Daniel &
Daniel represent ting r. T. Dill, the de-
PENDANT, while Mrs. Din was represented
by f. G.. Gilbert. The case was argued.
but during his speech Mr.. Gilbert called
the courts attention to something in
the pleading of the defendants counsel
which he claimed was a reflection upon
him Will Daniel, Jr, in closing his
argument, criticised the language used
by Mr.. Gilbert. The court interrupted,
stated that the attorneys should address
tn mselves to the law and facts in the
case. The matter then Quoted down
and the argument Was concluded and
the papers handed in.
Such is the version given by Judge
Martin of what led to a serious shooting
atfray in very few minutes thereafter
William Daniel, Jr., stood on one side
of table and F. G.. Gilbert on the
other. 1t is no; exactly clear, from the
accounts obtained, what each said to
the other. Sheriff Stafford was prescott
and states that Mr.. Gilbert either struck
or truck at young Daniel with an UNI.
brella. (Mr. Gilbert denied this state
ment, however, saying that he only
made motion to strike At any rate,
as he struck, or motioned to strike
William Daniel, Jr., drew his pistol and
fired point blank at Gilbert across the
table, following the shot Immediately
with a second shot. Gilbert backed
away from him, and, screening himself
somewhat behind the judges stand
drew his pistol and opened fire or
young Daniel, who in the meantime hac
crouched behind chair, firing one OF
two more shots at f. G. Gilbert
At this juncture. as reported by Mr.
Stafford, George Gilbert drew his pisto
and began firing at William Daniel
Jr., whose father, hearing the shots and
suspecting the cause, rushed from the
Clerk and Masters Office, and seeing
George Gilbert III the act of firing a
Will Daniel, grappled his pistol hanC
and sought to turn it aside. The
weapon exploded, Mr.. Daniel receiving
a wound on the left side of the neck
Fortunately it was only flesh wound
When the smoke of battle had final,
cleared away it was found that William
! Daniel, Jr., had received two wounds
One ball struck him in the top of the
| head, but old not enter the skull |
ranged around, coming out at a poin
about two inches from where it euterel
| Another bullet entered his lett arm nea
the shoulder being probably the more
serious of the two The bullet remained
in his shoulder.
1t is considered little short of mar
veous that f, G. Gilbert, especially, es
capped being killed, the first two shot
being fred at him with such clos
range. The first shot evidt ntly hi
him, the bullet striking him under tn
left arm between the wrist and the elbow
Bad workmanship alone il all tina
prevented 1T least a triple tragedy, a
twelve or fifteen shots were fired by til
two Gilberts and William Daniel, Jr,
Daniel, Sr., not having weapon.
George Gilbert was the only one VIII
escaped without a scratch, although
Sheriff Stafford states that he was she
at several times by Young Daniel, VIII
turned on him after firing twice a
Grundy Gilbert, George having in tn
meantime pulled his pistol and opene
fire on Daniel, who probably saved him
self from fatal injuries by crouching bt
hind chair. A bullet passed throug
the back of the chair, leaving hole a
clear cut as if it been bored with a
auger. The walls and furniture of tn
room show the marks of ten bullet holes
The Daniels, after having the wound
dressed were driven to their home in
carriage Peace warrants were serve
by the Sheriff upon all the parties cor
cerned. 1t is not thought there will b
further trouble, mutual friends inter
fering to restore peace.