Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-08
Attorney General Drawn
Into DisgraCefuI Affair
at Atlantic City.
REPEATEDLY lNSULTED
BY Three Drunken Ma
bobS Who DiSregarded
Presence of Women.

Atlantic City, y. J., Aug. SIN
disgraceful turmoil in Il fashionable
cafe Attorney General Knox of Pres
ident Roosevelt's cabinet was knock
ed out by Theodore Cramp, of Phila-
delphia, last night. Mr.. Knox, to-
gether with three other gentlemen
and four women, was dining in the
cafe when CramP and two compan-
ions, one of them Charles L. SchOen,
of Philadelphia, and the other a Mr..
Stevenson, likewise a millionaire, en-
tered and took a table near that at
which Mr.. Knox and his party were
being served. Schoen was visibly in
toXicated and his companions were
also under the influence of liquor.
Their talk soon became not only un-
becomingly loud but vulgar, and at
length Il waiter, at Mr.. knOXs sug-
gestion, called their attention to the
fact that women were near and TO
mOduIate their tones. The three at
once sent an apology to the Knox ta-
BILE. but were soon talking bolster
ously as before. At this the waiter
again demonstrated with the noisy
three, whereat an apology was again
sent to the adjoining table. But the
loud talking and vulgarity was soon
once more resumed. Then Mr.. Knox
in person went to the table at which
were seated the three milliOnaires
and requested them to refrain from
further Objectionable language. AZ
ter delivering his request he turned
and went back to his friends. Just
what was the reply he got from Mr..
SchOen, Mr.. Cramp and Mr.. Steven
son cannot be quite certain. Wit
nesses say that such Incorporate
words as cur ''Ioafer,'' black
guard and kindred appellations were
hurled after the attorney general.
But of the events that quickly fol
lowed there can be no doubt, for they
had no less than half a score of wit
nesses. Once again Mr.. Knox arose
and begged that the hostile three
suppress their opinions until the wo-
men members of his party could re-
tire from the scene and he and the
other seven at once got up from their
table and went out of the cafe annex.
They had to pass close to the table
where Mr.. Schoen and his friends
were seated. The insulting remarks
flew thick and fast, the presence of
women offering no restraint on the
three men.
Knox Returns for Trouble.
As soon as he had reached the
street Mr.. Knox excused himself from
the party with which he had been
dining, returned alone to the cafe an
mex and strobe over to the table oc-
cupied by Mr.. Schoen, Mr.. Cramp and
Mr.. Stevenson. In moment all was
wild confusion. Blows were launched
wildly. Just who struck the first
blow cannot be said positively, but it
is certain that even while Mr.. Knox
was making protest to Mr.. Schoen
against his Incorporate language he
was being called names that startled
everyone within hearing.
You are a cur" beloved Mr..
Schoen as he rose from the table un-
steadily and launched his fists wildly
at Mr.. Knox.
Mr.. Cramp and Mr.. Stevenson, too,
were active in the war of words.
Then came blow, struck by Mr..
Cramp, which 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 and threw
leaned for a moment almost uncon-
scious. At that moment a half dozen
walters rushed up. The head waiter
seized Mr.. Cramp from behind, PIN
Joining his arms, while another grap-
pied with Mr.. Stevenson and dragged
him out of the struggle.
Not Badly Hurt.
Others took hold of Mr.. Schoen,
who was not prepared to offer much
resistance. Mr.. Knox was speedily
surrounded by his friends and they
quietly retired from the cafe and
were driven away to their hotel. The
blow he had received from Mr.. Cramp
had stunned him for a moment, but
he recovered after few moments.
Knox Admits Trouble.
New York, Aug. S.--Attorney Gen
eral and Mrs. Knox left early today
to visit the president. Knox admitted
today he had been the participant in
an unpleasantness at a cafe at At
lantic City, but said the published ac-