The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-08-15

Especial 10 The Washington Post)
Philadelphia, August The North
American tomorrow will print a spe-
ciai from Atlantic City giving the de-
tails OF an alleged assault on Attorney
General Knox last night in the cafe OF
a fashionable hotel at that resort. The
special says:
The cause OF the assault on Mr..
Knox was his attitude against the
trusts. His as~sailants We're Charles 7.
Sheen. the multimillionaire or Philadel-
phia and Pittsburg: Theodore Cramp,
the Philadelphia shipbuilder. and a Mr..
Stevenson, also well known in Phila-
delphia-
Attorney General Knox was attack
ed by three men. and superior nurnber
defeated him. Theodore Cramp Is the
man who delivered the blow. IL was a
ri~ght-hander that sent the attorney
general spinning backward"
The Atlantic City dispatch explains
that Mr.. Knox and a party OF friends,
including several ladies. were taking
supper in the cafe about IL o'clock.
when the three men. who are alleged
10 have assaulted him. drove up and
entered, taking seats at n table near
that Of the attorney general. The lou
talk OF the newcomers is said To ave
been objected to by Mr., Knox The
head waiter demonstrated and an
apology was made. The talk was soon
resumed, however. and there was an
other remonstrance and another
apology.
In the meantim Mr.. Knox had been
recognized and the three mel whose
talk had been objected II are said to
have began indulging in remarks dis
paraging to the attorney general. Mr..
Schoen, it is claimed. was the chief Of
fender. His emarks are said to have
been based on he attorney generals
hostile attitude toward trusts. He did
net admire Mr.. KnOx's steps in the di-
rection Of their dissolution. and said
30. The special continues:
Just who struck the first blow an
not be said positively. But certain IL
is that while Mr.. Knox was making a
protest to Mr.. SChoen against his in
temperate language he was being call
ed names that startled every one with
In hearing.
Then came A blow. 1t was struck
by Mr.. Cramp, and landed fairly on the
belt of the attorney general. who found
himself opposed to three men. all much
larger and heavier than he. The blow
staggered him back against the wall.
AT the m a half-doZen walters
rushed up. The head waiter seized Mr..
Cramp from behind his arms. Another
grappled with Mr.. Stevenson and drag
ged him out Of the struggle. others
took hold of Mr.. Schoen. Mr.. Knox
was speedily surrounded by his friends,
and they quickly retired from the cafe
and were driven away TO their hotel.
The blow he received from Mr.. Cramp
had stunned him for a moment, but he
quickly recovered.
1.-The noise and confusion had at
tracted more than a score OF the hotel
guests to the scene. They crowded in
to the cafe, where Mr.. Schoen. Mr..
Cramp and Mr.. Stevenson still re-
aimed The walters had drawn Il cor
don around their table. Mr.. Schoen
and his friends ordered wine. but were
politely informed that 1t would not be
served to them
By Associated Press.)
Oyster Bay, N. Y, August S.-Attor-
ney General and Mrs. Knox arrived
here today to be the guests Of Presi-
lent and Mrs. Roosevelt.
To a representative of the Associated
Press, Mr.. Knox confirmed the report
that he had a personal difficulty with a
party OF men III Atlantic City last
Wednesday night.
ut was one OF those disagreeable m
eidents," said he. " hat sometimes oc-
eur in a restaurant or other public
place.. accompanied Dy MITE hDOA. my
daughter and two or three friends. in
GLIDING District Attorney Young. of
Pittsburg, I was dining in the restau-
rant Of the Garden Hotel. A party OF
none Of whom / knew. seated
themselves at an adjoining table. Their
was unseemly and boisterous.
They talked loudly and their comments
upon members OF my party and upon
me were insulting. 10 put In very
mildly.
I'm the circumstances. accompanied
as / was by the ladies, / could not re-
SEM their actions or their words at
that time. They evidently were seek
ink trouble, SO without attracting any
more attention than possible. ! got my
party out Of the restaurant.
Then / returned" continued Mr..
| Knox with a smile, Ito see IL the men
! really were looking for me. / think
they were, for scarcely had / approach
ed them when they sprang UP. One Of
Them aimed a blow at my stomach.
but il failed TO Teach me. ! have no
idea who he was. What happened TO
him / am not prepared TO say. Those
things occur very quickly. / am quite
satisfied, however. that he does not
.eel as well today as 1 do You will
aote that / am looking first rate"
You do not know VINO were in the
party OF your a~ssailants2" the attor-
ney general was asked.
Not positively. l understand that
Charles T. Schoen. of Philadelphia. and
one of the Cramps, also OF Philadei-
phia. were in the party. but even or
hat / am not at all positive.
What acuated them / do not o
: newspaper OF today said that IL nao
something TO do with my attitude on
The trust question. but that seems TO
be entirely unlikely. As they SAT at
the table in the restaurant they made
no reference to the action which, as at
torney general. I have taken against
certain so-called trusts
Their remarks were personal TO me
and my family and were OF such a ma
ture that I could do nothing but resent
them.
ST understand that after I left the
restaurant at the conclusion OF he dit
| 0culty, the walters suppressed the
crowd with some energy"