Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-02
Gen. Lea Challenges
NJ. B. FleXner to
a Combat
Young Society Leader
Causes Revival of
Chivalry
Doughty Southern Soldier Accuses
Salesman From Kentucky Of Maxi
ing Some Insulting Remarks
at a Recent Dinner

General Homer Lea, head Of the re-
formed forces of ChinaN well known
cubman, society favorite and Stanford
graduate, has challenged NJ B. FleX-
ner, a well known travelling salesman,
to a duel.
General LEAFS challenge is the result
of an insult alleged to have been Of
fered Miss Jeanette Brooks and Miss
Edith Dunn, two well known society
women of Los Angeles, by Flexner,
while they were guests at dinner
given by General Lea in the Angelus
grill Monday night, June 25.
General Lea says he has given Flex
ner the choice of weapons and that
the latter has refused to accept the
challenge.
Since the night of the challenge,
which was given in front of the Fourth
street entrance to the Angelus hotel in
the presence of several pedestrians,
Flexner is said to have carefully kept
under cover.
Flexner claims the challenge was
nothing more nor less than joke and
made while General Lea was slightly
under the influence of liquor. FleXner's
statements regarding the circumstances
Cnder which the challenge was made
the whole affair.
Denies Drinking Charge
General Lea says that he was never
more in earnest than when he chal
lenged 'Flexner and positively denies
having been drinking the night of June
25 last
The dinner which General Lea gave
to the Misses Brooks and Dunn and
Major Thurstonl of the United States
army and Antonio Apache, a Harvard
and Yale graduate, followed dinner
given in honor of David Starr Jordan
of the Stanford university on June 90
at which General Lea was the host.
The latter dinner was given in the
dining room of the Angelus hotel.
mo wine or liquor of any kind was
drank at the dinner at which David
Starr Jordan was the guest of honor"
said General Lea yesterday. THE alb
sence of wine was out of courtesy to
DIR. Jordan, who does not use any Ii
quors. At the dinner mineral water
was used.
Receives Message
"The dinner given DIR. Jordan was
concluded about 8 o'clock. AS l was
leaving the dining room one of the bell
boys handed me the cards of two
young women whom l was told were in
the reception parlor waiting to see
me.
Il followed DR.. Jordan to the Fourth
street entrance of the hotel and saw
him to a carriage. DIR. Jordan went
from the Angelus to the University
club, where had promised to meet him
after 1 had received the women waiting
for me in the reception room.
when / entered the reception parlor
| found gentleman with them who
was introduced to me as Mr.. Flexner.
On learning that they had not dined /
invited them to join me in light meal
in the grill room. All three accepted.
"As we started to go to the grill room
1 met Major Thurston and Mr.. Apache
standing in the corridor. l asked the
latter two If they would not also join
us in the grill.
I'VE sat at table in the middle of
the grill room and were served a light
luncheon, drinking White Rock mineral
water as we did in the dining room
Suddenly Mr.. Flexner left the table
and went to the cigar counter and
called out to Miss Brooks:
Jeannette, are you coming, or are
you not?'
Speaks in Loud Voice
"Mr Flexner addressed Miss Brooks
in loud tone of voice. / thought ii
extremely rude, not considering the in
suit offered both of us, her as my
guest and me as her host. 1 was also
surprised that guest of mine would
do that.
II rose at once from my chair and
went up to Mr.. Flexner.
If you wish to speak to Miss Brooks,
Mr.. Flexner,' 1 said, you may do so by
coming to the table. You will not ad-
dress any of my guests across the room.
You have Offered both of us an insult
and you must either apologize to her
in my presence or fight. If you must
yell to her from this part of the room
/ order you to leave the dining ROOM
with that Mr.. Flexner turned and
went up the stairs to the street. re-
turned to the table and asked Miss
Brooks If she wished to accompany
Flexner.
"T do not she replied
after completing our meal we start
ed to leave the dining room. My guests
went out ahead of me and remained to
settle for my bill. AS joined them on
the street Major Thurston went for a
carriage. Just as he left caught sight
of Flexner standing near the hotel en-
trance.
Issues Challenge
"'What are you going to do about
that incident in the grill room?' L asked
him. The women are here: you may
apologize to them or you must fight me-
challenge you to duel here and leave
the choice OF weapons to you.
"T never fight a man who wears a
Masonic pin, replied Fexner My
order and / therefore must refuse
Il Immediately removed my Mason's