Los Angeles herald., 1905-06-17
BUSINESS MAN IS
WORSTED IN FIGHT
FATHER REsENTS ACCUSATION
AGAINST SON
BATTLE IN DOWNTOWN STORE
Constable Cline and Douglas Dawson
Engage In Fierce Personal En-
counter In Latter's PrI-
vate Office

An alteration between Constable
William H. Cline of Justice Pierces
court and Douglas Dawson, manager
for the w. II. Hoegee company, termi-
mated in personal combat between
them in the private office of the latter
yesterday morning and the manager is
said to have Jared badly at the hands
of the constable.
A clerk employed in the store, by
name of Germain, who Is said to have
been the primary cause of the trouble
was slapped by the constable after the
affair with Dawson.
Cause Of the Trouble
1t is said that the trouble arose over
certain charges made by German to
Dawson regarding George T. Cline, son
of the constable, who was formerly en-
ployed in the store. The charges made
were to the effect that young Cline was
SO short in his settlements with the
company for goods sold.
1t was to secure a retraction of the
charges and an exoneration of his son
that the constable called upon Dawson
yesterday, and 1t Is said that the fight
resulted from Dawson's rufusal to sign
a retraction, and an intimation that he
believed the boy was guilty of the
offense as charged.
Through some unfortunate misunder-
standing Germain Is said to have ac-
cused young Cline Of having pocketed
the amount received for a dog collar
which he was alleged to have Sold
Cline indignantly denied the allegation
and gave an explanation, but i'll feeling
existed and Cline resigned, and his
father and uncle tried to straighten
out the affair.
Several times the constable visited
Manager Dawson at his home and at
his place Of business, and yesterday
morning decided to make a final set
tlement of the affair one way or an
other. He went to Hoegee's, accompa-
were closeted for some time before
shouts for help were heard from the
managers office, and Cline and Judge
Pierce came out of the room and
walked toward the door.
CIlne's Story of the Fight
The following story Of the encounter
is told by Constable Cline:
''I either wanted Manager Dawson to
substantiate his allegation against my
boy or to exonerate him. One of these
two actions I thought due my son, as
he is well known in this city and
could not suffer smirch on his char
acter unless 1t was substantiated.
Yesterday, after Manager Dawson
had failed to substantiate his charge,
I went to him with Judge Pierce and
we talked the matter over and Judge
Pierce wanted to go to the bottom of
the affair. I took a small document
along which simply said that the
charges against my son had no founda-
ton and he was exonerated.
IT asked Manager Dawson either to
make his charge good or sign the pa
per. He told me that he had gone into
the matter as far as he wished, and
started to read letter. and then
slapped him and knocked him into his
chair and pummeled him a little, but
he cried for help and stopped hitting
him.
Judge Pierce then pushed open the
door and as was walking out I saw
German, who had started the trouble,
and I called to him. He came to me
and I slapped him in the face and that
was the end of the trouble"
DaWson's Version
Mr.. Dawson was seen last night and
asked for his version of the affair. He
said:
1.-THE attack upon me was wholly un-
warranted and uncalled for and immed-
late steps will be taken to settle with
the offenders.
at employed Mr.. Cline at the recon-
mendation of one of my men. Mr..
Cline seemed exceptionally bright and
when rumors came to me that he was
not acting right toward the firm I put
the matter aside and still believed In
him.
FINALLY the matter was brought so
forcibly to me that I called him to my
Office and gave him every chance In my
power to settle the unfortunate affair.
He made no settlement and when /
at last spoke to him about 1t he asked
me whether he had stolen anything and