The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-08
TWO AGED MEN
 ENGAGE IN FIGHT Each Tried to Get Into the
 Hospital Ward JUDGE FEAGIN CONDEMNS Judge Decides That Old Fighters Had Agreed to Beat Each Other Up
 In Order to Get Into
 Hospital.
JUDGE FEAGIN CONDEMNS s

Hospital. Two old fellows, whose names are sup pressed because they are not known and because they were so badly beaten up by each other when they were arrested that they didn't have sense enough to give their names, were up before Judge Fea- gin yesterday afternoon charged with ''an affray." One man appeared to bs about 60 years old and the other stated to the judge that he was 6S years of age. | Both appeared to be of humble occupa- ton.
 The two old fellows entered the court room from the prisoners cage hatless, coatless, collarless. about half shirtless, and fearless of no man but the judge whom they were about to face. No. had two black eyes and a swollen right cheek. and No. 2 had the jagged imprint of a pair of teeth in his left cheek where No. had swung on and held like a bull dog.
 When the scrappers entered Judge Fea- sin peered over his glasses at them in the manner which strikes terror to the heart of every defendant. but they scrap ed up nerve enough to speak when the frown turned Into a faint smile They thought the judge was sympathizng, but not so, he was amused.
 Whats the matter, boys?" came from the bench.
 Both men wanted to tell the tale, and would have had another fight over that matter if the judge hadn't pointed the pen which records those fines'' at one of them. The older man, 1t seems, had always known his friend. with whom he had been fighting, to be a rascal of the first water. but the son of gun, he said, always managed to pull a string some where, when It was needed, and usually pulled through holes in the easiest sort of a manner
 Heavlng In Stomach.
 So 1t happened that the old man of three score and ten minus two years had a heavlng in his stummlck" and went to the charity ward of one of tho hospitals here to receive treatment. Lut no room could be found for him, for he
 
 down and had to let the heavlGS heave away like 1t had always heaved.
 Ills friend was taken with the fever" a few days later and he went to the charity ward at the hospital and, wheth- he pulled one of those strings or not, he was admitted.
 This 'riled" the old gentleman, who had been turned down, very much, and week or so later, after the fever had been broke up," the two "friends' met They met on their native heath, in a sa- loon near Mules Ear" and there No. 1 demanded an explanation
 The story goes that No. 1 couldn't understand why 1t was that he couldn't get in the hospital when he had a h cav ing in his stommick and the other man got in when he only had fever. So the argument went on, and all that No. 2 would say was that. "he got in all right. and was out. and 1t was mo- body's business who put him in, or how he got out"
 Both Filled Up.
 Tn the meantime both were filling up, and finally they got load whic
  instead of the one, and as they walked around the saloon spreading joy broad cast they staggered together, and final Iy had a head end collision This collision fixed the thing up right, and somebody had to be whipped or the other man would bust"
 As they fell No. 1 bit at No. and got a mouth full of whskers. He snapped second time and caught No. on the cheek and swung onNas if life depended upon his holding there.
 "If you're hungry" says No. 2, bite it out and turn me go. l don't care to be chewed up."
 Held On Like Bulldog.
 No. 1 didn't know what 1t was to quit, however, and he held on till No. choked him almost into insensibi,'ty. The strangle hold was followed with two jabs In the eyes which caused constellation of the brightest and most wonderful nature to appear to the stricken man. The other mans nose was bitten. then his ear, then his whisk- ors for the second time, and lastly and finally the raging man snapped the end
 
 off.
 Bloody and full of battle as two game chickens the two old fellows were separated, and after being put into the patrol wagon. although as weak as a straw, few more snaps and jabs were heard on the way to jail.
 Judge Feagin heard the story with a great deal of interest and then asked one:
 10 tel 1the truth about the matter. wasn there q mutt al agreement ie- tween the two nf you to beat each othe~ up su bud that you could both live in the charity ward q the hospital for a week or sor"
 Before he finished his question he started to writing on the docket. and Just as each of the men accused the other of being the faulty one
 Five dollars apiece" said the judge, and in few seconds the old iron door of the city prison swung to with a bump behind the two old fellows who were still looking for a fight. ~write for MyFree Book k@
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