The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-12
SCHOEN'S VERSION OF 1T
He Says Attorney-GeneraI Knox Was
Not Giving Cambria Tea.

The Atlantic City correspondent OF the
Philadelphia North American sends his
paper the following interesting interview
with Mr.. Charles T. Schoen. who was one
Of the party Of three Philadelphia mil
lional'res who colided with Attorney-Gen-
eral Knox, of President Roosevelt's Cabi-
net, in a swell Atlantic City cafe on last
Wednesday night:
For the first time since the encounter
of last Wednesday night, in which Attor-
ney-General Knox figured so prominently
at one of the hotels, Charles T. Schoen,
OF Philadelphia. consented to make a de-
tailed statement of the affair. He con-
tended that the blow that was struck
at the Cabinet Minister was by no means
uHDrOtolled.
While Mr.. Schoen deprecated the fact
that he and, Theodore Cranlp and Arthur
II. Stephenson had been unwittingly in
volved in the affair he said that he didn't
see why all the od;um of it should attach
to him and his friends
Mr.. Schoen frankly admitted that wine
was served to him and his companions
With Their dinner Furthermore, he said.
he observed that no Cambria tea" or
tea cups were noticeable on the table
where Attorney General Knox and his
friends were dining
NO AFFRONT INTENDED.
Certainly we never intended to at
front Nh. Knox and his frieds,' said Mr..
Schoen. '.That was as far from us as
anything could possibly be. In order that
the public may fully understand just what
did occur l will detail at length the
events of the evening in question.
Mr.. Cramp, Mr.. Stephenson and my
self had been playing pool a the Brigh-
ton. We had a few drinks. but certainly
our conduct there could not have been
construed otherwise than gentlemanly.
Later that night we went to the Garden
Hotel. going to the cafe annex and TAX
ing seats at small table. I noticed that
at table near by there were several per-
sons but naturally made no note as to
who they We're.
We'll, ours was a jolly party. we had
something more to drink, laughed and
chatted freely, just as men are won't to
do under such conditions. We ordered our
dinner and soma wine with it. So far as
l am concerned. I have no recollection of
using language that should have given
any grave offense to any one. Mr.. Cramp
too. is very much Of a gentleman, and I'm
sure he never dreamed of indulging In
what Mr.. nnox has branded as profane
and indecent language That is not his
nature even when he is with the most
cornwall company
KNOX INsULTTD THEM
For these reasons thought Mr.. Knox
adopted an unwarranted course when he
sent a waiter to inform US that our con-
duct was offensive to him. But at the
time I deemed it the part of wisdom to
send back an apology and ignore his
rather pompous and peremptorN request.
But if l was amazed then at his con-
duct, my aston!shment was even greater
when Mr.: Knox; member Of the Presi-
dents Cabinet, deliberate offered the
greatest possible insult as he was leaving
the cafe with his friends. He leaned over
our table and said: You are a lot Of dirty
ours
"a minute later he came back and
rushing up to our table began to abuse
us. You are blackguards. he exclaimed.
At that Mr.. Stephenson jumped uD and
made short-arn punch at him and then
there was great scufle. | am not sure
that Mr.. Stephenson landed his blow, but
am of the opinion that he did. think
it landed on knoX's chest.
For my part never moved out of
my chair. I was too much shocked at
the apparent lack of diplomacy and dig
official position Nor did Mr.. Cramp mix
up in the affair Of lists: for ne felt Just
Mr.. Knox was hastily taken out
NO TEA CUPS ON KNON'S TABLE
Now. according. to an interview given
all drunk and abusive and profane. 7 am
ready to confess that we had been drink
ns but by no means do we NV 9veT wea}
out of the way to find trouble and &C
complished his mission. AS member OF
mitted a grave breach of his official dig
nifty. even according to his own state
ments concerning the affair.
Moreover. I desire 70 remark that
observed no signs of cambria tea or tea
cups on the table where Mr.: Knox ana
his friends were dining. Incidentally, 1t
occurred TO my mind afterward that the
intellectual force and brain power which
should be possessed by Cabinet officer
Of long legal training would be such as
to cause him to avoid rather than seek
a quarrel that could not be otherwise
than a discredit to all engaged In it..
In my opinion he could not have been
entirely himself. else he would not have
offered our party a, most UNIDENTIFIED az
front and then come back into the cafe
to start a highland that must have been
his intention: If not. why did he return,?,
I'm the absence of cambria tea at his
table can only take a most charita BILE
view of the affair.
Mr.. w f billiard and wife, Of Fair