The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
Mrs. Elizabeth MeIczer, Rich
Society Woman, in a
Fistic Role
Seeks Dividends From Mercan=
tile Company and Pummels
It's President
attorney Witnesses the Fray
and Finally Separates
the COmbatantS

A FREE for all fist fight in which.
"A it is asserted the furniture
\ was broken. a table overturned
and a handful of hair scattered in
reckless profusion about the floor
took place between Mrs. Elizabeth
MeIczer. a wealthy society woman with
residences in Los Angeles San Rafael
and Palo Alto, and John J. Hanley,
president Of the Hanley mercantile
company, I'm the latters private Office
Thursday morning. The end. accord
Ing TO those who claim TO know what
occurred. saw Hanley under the table
with the woman Of wealth and socia,
standing endeavoring TO further dam
age his countenance with her finger
nails
The prominence Of the parties. while
adding to the intensity of the moment,
in no way fnterfered with the hilarity.
Hanley in his efforts to protect him
self. according TO the stories told by
Mrs. Melczer to her friends. waved
aloft chairs, which were broken in the
melee and proved Of no avail. mas
much as he was finally forced to dive
under the table to save himself
SeiZes HanIey by Hair
The fight took place in the presence /
of James ". Cochrane. Mrs. Melczer's
attorney. The tale told by Mrs. Melczer !
10 her friends was that she had called
the day before TO collect dividends due
her from the mercantile company but |
was unable TO see Hanley. whereupon I
accompanied by Cochrane, she called /
the Offices again. After the two had |
been shown into Hsnleys private Of
nce she said. he began to unbraid her /
accusing her Of having made insulting 1
remarks about him to his clerk Ac-
ding TO her description of the af-
Tray she said nothing while he spoke.
but quietly removed her picture hat
wells. gloves and rings. and calmly
placed them on the table. Then, while
he talked she made a sudden grab for
him. entwining her fingers in his hair.
Hanley. she said. tried to swing out
AT her. but she kept her hold on his
locks. and when he did break loose a
portion OF his hirsute adornment re-
NAMED in her fingers. Then began
chase around the office. with Haniey in
retreat
Finally. she said. he picked up a !
chair and raised il aloft. but she was
too quick for him In the melee the
chair was broken. Cochrane made
heroic endeavors to stop the battle.
and succeeded in coming out of the
mixup with his glasses broken.
Fight With Vigor
The ight went on with vigor An
other chair was brought in as a means
Of defense. and that also was broken
TO the sound of breaking furniture
was added the remarks of the beIliger-
ents. At the imminent risk of having
= chair bounced on his head. Cochrane
rushed in and hauled his client away
Boy main force, stopping her cries by
smothering her 10 bis chest. HanIey.
it seems. then took advantage Of the
lulI to take refuge under the table.
Undeterred, Mrs. Melczer endeavored
to overturn it on him and had just
q ic6eeded in doing so. when her attor-
NF- Tore ueI from MIN ana, IbTcNlnB
her effects into the open. dragged her !
away.
Mrs. Melczer is the widow of the late
Louis Melczer, a well known Caiifor- |
MIA capitalist. Hanley is a brother of
James Haoiey, assistant district at
torney.
No Dividends Due
Hapley could not be seen last night, /
but q friend OF his who cIaimed to be /
familiar with the situation, said that
no dividends We're due Mrs. Melczer
The probabilities are said he.
"that Hanley told her unpleasant
truths about herself and she resented
them"
coehrane. while refusing to go into
the details Of the fight. said that the
stories told by Mrs MeIczer to her
friends were correct Hanley could not
be found last night According to
Hanley's friends. Mrs. Melczer had
business transactions with him. and
the expectations were that these would
be settled within few days.