The Washington times., 1909-12-04
Passing of Lie Direct Pre-
CipitateS Encounter Be
tween Lawyers.
LIPSCOMB FINED;
BAKER REBUKED
Counsel for Defense Draws q Pen
atty Of $50 for Starting
HostiIities.

A storm this morning descended On
the court room. in which former Police
man John ". Collier is being tried on
the charge OF numbering Police Capt.
William Mathews.
Amid a scene Of widest excitement,
Attorney Andrew Lipscomb. OF the de-
tense. engaged in a hsticuf with Dis
trict Attorney Baker.
Lipscomb was fined $50 for contempt
Of court. and Baker received a re6ulle
from the presiding judge
The encounter was the result OF the
lie direct" hurled by Mr.. Lipsccmb at
the District Attorney, after The latter
had himself broadly intimated that Col
hers counsel was guilty Of an unrruth.
Ever since the beginning Of the Col
Her trial Il has been marked By fre-
quent exchanges Of personalities be
tween the opposing counsel. The chief
offenders have been Assistant District
Attorney Turner and Mr. Iipscomb.
Cause Of Conflict.
The conflict between counsel came as
a point in the trial when the ReT. DR..
Edward Mott, rector Of the Church OF
the Advent, was on the stand testIfying
as TO the good reputation Of Collier, who
bad attended Dr. Motifs church Mr..
Lipsconb then asked Dr. Mott II II was
not 50 that the District Attorney had
written a letter 20 Bishop Harding de-
manding 20 know why Mr. Mott had
been permitted by the church authorities
TO appear at the Collier trial as a wit
ness In an instant Mr.. Baker was
on his feet. clamorsag TO the court 10
head of Attorney E9sPscomb But Mr..
LApscomb was not 10 be denied. He
scented an opportunity to make ex-
pose OF the GoveWmeat's me-
conductsc~ is CO %
II .rszd to that the
Attorneys &c attended
g. g. 5ate So oy directL
lestsr 10 Dr. OF Wash.
ar. Lipsc 0ws that he
telling the u , object 10
statement as ben an u7truth.
9i- Baker, appea ( to Judge
ne little p nat caused q
da ge was fore Judge Go n
CO. , check Mr.. H.. c1nlb's outburs'
Ou ere a uari" cried the euraged
at, -ney, shaking a finger at the Dis
trlct Attorney. Then came the crash.
Misses Aim.
Rushing at his antagonist. despite
his considerable avoirdupsois. Mr. Baker
struck out blindly. He landed a stiR
right--but not on Mr.. Lipscomb's an
atomy Instead. the blow, sent straight
from the shoulder with force, found
lOdgment on the side OF Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Harvey Given's face. Just
above his right eye. Then the two
men. both Of whom have long since de-
parted from their athletic school days.
came together, each pS%ving the air
wildly. and attempting TO get one over
on his antagOuiSt'S face.
It looked ike natures weapons were
going to score a real, simon pure tri-
umph over courtroom cOnventions-that
is, something hat resembled a mock
out-when court attaches, spectators,
and the defendant himself interfered
and brought the excited legal lights TO
their senses.
Collier, as II fearful that his counseTs
rashneSS might prejudice his case, step
ped forward and projected himself be
tween the two grappled men, Together
with Captain Doyle, Assistant District
Attorney Given and several spectators,
Collier helped the COmbatants 10 their
seats
Attorney Lipscomb Fined
When quiet had been restored and the
two attorneys, putting considerably
from their unusual exertions. had taken
their seats, Judge Gould fined Mr.. Lips
comb $50 for contempt of court.
MI. LlpSCOulDs ne SalQ I4QEeSSlnS
that attorney with cCnsiderabI vehem-
ence. Il Judge you in contempt. and
dne you $50. Your action is unwa~-
ranted."
your nonor. 1 apologize TO the
court" replied Mr. LipscOmb "and i
ask that L be pursed OF my contempt
tempt
Your apology is not accepted. and the
( fine stands declared Judge Gould de-
Z LeTTn1neIlE-
TO save his colleague from the imposi-
riOn of the fine, Attorney Taylor. of the
defense, asked Judge Gould thas his
/ Judgment be set aside until the termi1-
alton of the trial, but Judge Gould
waved him aside impalentlys saying
/ Il want no suggestions from you. sir
Aside from the appearance ot Collier
| himself on the stand, the most interest
3 ing feature OF the proceedings EeSter-
dav afternoon was the appearance as
/ a witness of Major Richard Sylvester.
/ Superintendent of Police, whose ac-
/ tiVity I'm the interest OF the DISTRICT
! Attorneys office aut against the ac-
/ cused policeman vas characterized by
4 Attorney IiDsCOmD, OF the aeteuSe, as
/ -.llnWarranted and hirl-handed pro
! Cedure intended TO intinTIate those 70
I licemen who desire to testify in Col
f. lieT's behalf.
/ Raising an arm I'm dramatic gesture
and then pointing fnSer at the head
{ Of the Police Department. ar. LipscOnb
. declared with great veEGmenCc-
! -'I want this court To- know that n
Z tyranny exists In thu Police Department
( that puts anything that Russia ever saw
. to shame"
Asked For Names
/ After considerable questioning, Major
/ Sylvester reluctansly admitted that
while the trial was pending he issued
| an official order % the captains OF an
/ the precincts calling for the names of
/ those policemen who had shaken hands
with Collier and shown grieudi.ncss to-
l ward MIN i'm his prpSent crave nrPdica-