The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
AUTHOR IN HOT FIGHT
Harrington ReSents Attempt
to Make Him Go Home.
MARS POLICE; IS ARRESTED
Hoosier Writer Gets ObstrcperOus
About = 4. NJ, When Friends Would
Put Him i'm Cab-BluecOnts Go 10
Rescuc-Rctire Winded, and Finally
SIT ON BeaucaIre's Head.

Indianapolis Dec 25.-Booth Tarking-
ton. the wcn-known Indiana author,
played the role Of Monsieur Beaucaire
early this morning. with the exception
that he had a couple of police officers for
opponents and used his feet and fists in
stead of swords.
But he pup up one Of the gamest fights.
the officers say, that they ever partici-
pated In. and one of them is limping
around tonight with badly barked shins,
and another was i'm bed for several hours
as consequence of a lick in the stomach
from both of the authors feet as he lay
on the ground with another officer sitting
on his head. About O'Clock this morn
ing a call was sent in 70 the police sta
zion from near the corner Of Washington
street and Capitol avenue, the voice ar
the telephone saying that a riot was in
progress and the officers should hurry.
When detectives reached the scene two
men ran away, leaving Harrington and a
friend, who was vainly trying to induce
the author TO get into hack in waiting
and go home
Author Is Obdurate.
The detectives added their voices to
that of Tarkington's friend. but he was
obdurate. The officers then showed their
badges. and ordered Harrington TO go
at once. adding a threat Of taking him
10 the police station
This infuriated the author, and he be-
gan TO abuse the officers. calling them
all kinds Of names. and threatening dire
destruction to them If they laid hands
weapons on such noted head, the game
became n pushing and showing one to-
ward the hack in waiting. while Tar
kingtOn let blows from his fist and from
his feet fly in every direction. Many of
these were warded Off. as the author in
his blind fury was not sure OF his aim.
but some Of them fell with telling force
upon the heads and bodies Of the Off
GERS Then there was a Clinch. and the
three rolled upon the ground. Officer
Manning sat down on TarlIlngtOn's head
and was holding it in the mud and slime
OF the pavement when Officer Samuels
approached TO take hold of the author s
feet TO place him in the carriage.
Tnrl>inEton Takes Chance.
That was Booths chance. and he lost
no time in improving IT,
As Samuels approached he raised both
feet and let go at the officer with all his
force. Both feet struck SaUuels squarely
in the stomach and sent him reeling ten
feet away. where he sat down with a
moan in the gutter. It was two or three
minutes before he got his wind back, but
when he did, the game was TO be played
without further triling Manning was
still sitting on Booths head and when
Samuels came back from his sudden tum-
bic. they took the author by the hair and
the seat OF his breeches and tumDled him
into the carriage.
Home asked the driver
'Home. no." said one of the officers
Drive to the station house"
Five minutes later Harrington was in
the station house, but he refused TO an.
swer any Of the questions Of the turnkey
while the charge against him was being
placed on the slate. After consultation
II was determined to charge him with re
s!sting an officer. The other contemplate
charges were dropped.
Under promise that he would go home
he was released on his own recOgnizance
He did not appear in court this morning
but a friend who said he had been trying
10 get into communication with him bu
had failed, asked the court to continue tn,
trial till Saturday and this was done.