New-York tribune., 1903-02-09
4. THOMAS FELLS EDITOR
PL.4 THRIGHT -fRRESTED
Angry at Sreet's Ponce" Call
ing HIM Mss GusSae.


rested at his home in New Rochelle last even
ing charged with assault in the third degree
by Henry Sweet editor OF The Pioneer. JUS
fice Phelps after a telephone conversation,
paroled Mr. Thomas in custody of his counsel,
j Crennan. 10 appear this morning. Inc
frcuble arose out of an editorial in yesterdays S
issue of The Pioneer Mr.. Thomas, according
Ia common reuute. aspires 20 be the Demo
-rattc nominee for Mayor Of w-Rochele
st the next election. and as q result Of this
and his activities in Democratic politics in
,be last few wears The Pioneer" which is
q Republican organ. has poked more or less
fun al him.
one of the articles TO which Mr.. Thomas took
exception referred 10 him as Miss Gussie'
Thomas Il recounted that when taxes were
cue last spring he made three trips from South
arnp:on to pay his taxes and always found the
Tax Receivers Office closed; that he forcefuliN
criticised the collector for neglect OF duty, ana
finally objected TO paying interest on the over
due taxes Continuing. the article declared that
after Miss Cfussie had contracted lint on the
lungs from chewing the rag he and the re-
caiver came 10 an agreement by which the
collector agreed personally 10 pay the interest
81 Nj Thomas would pay the principal, and
slso buy the collector new hat.
Tb. second article was based on published
-erort that Mr.. Thomas was one Of the speakers
At = dinner Of the Republicans of the AAlAth
Assembly District held at the Savoy The COM
raent Of The Pioneer was that Mr. Thomas
,5ould explain how he came to be a Republican
nd fusionist in NeU-York and Democratic
,a,,or,aiener in New Rochelle. 1t suggested that
might De possible TO have him repeat the ad-
dress before the Democratic Club at New
Rochelle and intinated that if he did the audi
e1ce would attend enthusiastically armed with
appropriate missiles
Nr Thomas did not see The Pioneer until
Yesterday morning, he says Then his ire rose,
and he went TO Mr. Sweets home in Locust-aVe-
II was then 10 O'Clock Mr.. Sweet met him at
1he oor He invited Mr.. Thomas inside and Mr.
Thomas entered. taking off his rain coat The
Two men cat down in the parlor. Both admit
there Has strenuous talk and that Mr.. Thomas
did most Of the talking. Mr. Sweet asserts there
were threats. but Mr.. Thomas denies this. Mr..
Sweet says that he was worried because Mrs
Sweet had been IL. and in fact still i'll; that
nc rose to close the doors and that Mr.. Thomas
shouted for him 10 keep his seat, and that when
he explained what he wanted TO do Mr.. Thomas
drew the portieres together. Mr.. Sweet insists
that the language used by the playwright was
not in good taste, but that he offered to publish
Nr Thomas's side of the stories Mr.. Thomas
then handed him two sheets OF manuscript. Efr.
sweet read them and refused to sign. There
vas more loud talk and finally Mr.. Sweet signed.
The letter was as follows:
Ne, Augustus Thomas
Dear Sir: The Pioneer wishes TO retract the
article o. February Z commenting on your re-
ported appearance at Republican dinner in
New York. il learns you were neither present
nor promised to attend. and it is convinced that
great injustice done you by its comment.
The Picneer' also wishes to apologize for an
editorial in the same issue clumsily alluding to
YOU Miss GCssie Thomas. and as a partial
.repsratiOn ToT the offence The Pioneer prom
'ses never 10 print your name again. either in
supposed complimentary uncomplimentaTy
association or 10 alIUde 20 or 70 refer to you
gain. directly indirectly. so long as it shall
remain under my control, except in this letter,
Whch win appear IN the issue of February Il.
After MIR. Sweet had signed he ACCOMPANIED
Nr. Thomas 10 the door. He says. and Mr..
Thomas does not deny, that the fist of the play
wright landed on the neck Of the editor. When
the latter fen Mr. Thomas walked away. Mrs
Sweet heard her husband fall and although i'll
and almost in Mysteries account Of the quar-
rel ran to his aid. Dr.. c. n. Raymond was
hastily summoned 10 attend Mrs. Sweet. He
said he found Mr.. Sweet with a badly swollen
neck
j Is declared that as MIR Thomas left the
hcuze he said to Mr.. Sweet: "If any of your
friends think am as efeminate the articles
IN vcur paper imply, tell them about this"
A soon as he had his wife cared for. Mr..
Sweet wrote a note and sent a messenger with il
- NJ. Thonas's house. Ie read as follows:
send this letter 10 YOU by messenger to i'm
uledistev notify you that withdraw my sigma
rJre from and repudiate the letter which you
wrote and brought TO this morning, and
which I signed simply and only TO RIO my mouse
of Yourself and your vile talk in the hearing of
nrr uIfe.
I have no excuse to offer for the publications
IN The Pioneer complained of by you, and con
sder my action in signing the letter fully Justl-
fed. by reason of the assault perpetrated by
sou unon ne and the shameful conduct in my
house 1t the time it signed.
Nr Sweet later had the warrant issued.
Mr Thomas said last night at his home on
Isther's Hill:
Z did not push Sweet nor shove him gently.
] landed on his jaw with my fist. 1 guess he
took the count. / did not wait TO see. In fact,
that regret is that invaded the privacy of his
home but I feel that he invaded the privacy of
my home when he published these insinuations
70 the people OF the town.
L did not want 10 let any one get the impres-
sion that I would let insinuation Of this kind
70. even for day. I felt that man who read
those articles and would wait until Monday
resent them would fully deserve them, so I set
cut TO see Mr.. Sweet at once"
Nj Thomas denied that he forced Mr. Sweet
10 sign the ratraction. He declared Sweet said
ne would be happy 10 sign. and that he added.
Il think ycu re very kind, Mr.. Thomas. TO ac-
cept the retraction and let the matter drop"
Il replied TO the remark" said the playwright,
Dent make any mistake bout that. Mr.. Sweet,
do not accept. This by means satisfies me-
I used sorae extremely forcible language. be
cause thought that the reflection on my char
scter demanded the strongest condemnation l
in aFTafic ~ n