The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-06
DENSON ATTACKS R. L. LEATHERWOOD Latter Was Knocked UnCon- SciouS on Bank Corner WOUND IS NOT SERIOUS  Blow Struck By w. A. oenson as Re- suit of Charges Preferred Against
 Him Before Bar AssocIa-
 tIon-Bond Made.
WOUND IS NOT SERIOUS

Yesterday afternoon about 1 o'clock Att torney William A. Denson of the firm or Denson & Denson, knocked Attorney k. L. Leatherwood down with piece of iron pipe at the corner of the First National Bank building. MT. Leatherwood was ren- dered unconscious from a scalp wound on the side of his head, and was taken to the Hillman hospital in Lige Loy's am- bulance, where his wound was dressed. He regained consciousness about o'clock and the physicians state that he Is not in a serious condition and will be able to be out in a few days.
 The blow was struck as a result of charges preferred against MT. Denson by MT. Leatherwood before the central com mittee of the Alabama State Bar asso- citation. The association was asked to disbar Denson for alleged conduct in violation of the ethics of the bar, and the charges made serious reflections on Mir Denson's character as a man and an att torney.
 The Charges.
 A copy of the charges were served or Mr. Denson in his office in the Title Guarantee and Trust building. He show ed them to his father, Col. W. H. Dem son, put on his hat and walked out of the office. He met Mir Leatherwood on the First National bank corner The two men looked at each other, it is said, and then Denson struck Leatherwood with the piece of pipe without saying a word.
 MT. Denson waited at the corner until Policeman Murphy arrived surrendered and made bond to the amount of S10O He went to his office and there waited until the officers came after him again to make a larger hand. He was taken before Judge Feagin who set his bond to appear before the grand jury to the amount of sleO0 The bond was made and MT. Dem son waived all preliminary hearing.
 It seems that the trouble grew out of a suit for damages by Henry Lee against the A. c. S. railroad for loss of a leg. Colonel Denson yesterday afternoon gave the following account of the case:
 Colonel Denson's Statement
 "The negro came to our office to ask us to defend him. We took the case un- der written contract. signed by us and
 
 but went over. At that time Leatherwood heard of the case and went to see the negro. at which time the attorney got a written affidavit from the negro that he had never engaged us. My son went to Greensboro and settled the case with Charles E. Waller, representing the rail- road, and at the same time secured from the negro a sworn statement that the firm of Denson &, Denson had been en- gagged to represent hlm, that Leatherwood was not his attorney, and that we were to settle the case as we thought best At the instance of Judge Roulhac filed charges against Leatherwood before the executive committee of the Bar associa- tion for this violation of ethics of the bar. But before filed the charges I went to MT. I.eatherwood's office and tod him what action I would take, and telling him that when he got this affidavit from tho negro he knew that 1t was untrue.
 Counter Charges.
 ''These charges against my son are counter charges to those filed, and they claim that my son employed man named Jones to secure the case and the evidence, end that the case was settled for $40. and that we charged ss5 attorneys fees, which Is considered very reasonable. These charges I deny most positively, and state that they are unfounded in fact"
 At the hospital last night it was stated that MT. Leatherwood would not be in condition to make statement at least bs- fore tomorrow. The physicians stated that llis condition was as good as could be expected, and that they did not con- g.der hdm seriously injured. They, how ever. said that 1t would be several hours. possibly day. before 1t could be asser- tained positively whether the wound was more serious than it now appears. The wound is under tho left ear.
 Tho trouble caused q great crowd to gather at the First National bank corner. and all during the afternoon until after dark people were gathered in little kn1ts discussing the affray A large pool of blood flowed from MT. Leatherw aod'g wound Reports were circulated that Leatrerwood was dead, but he had not been long at the hospital before he showed