Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-15
Objects in PugiIistic Way to
Newspaper Criticism.
RICHMOND EDITOR VICTIM
Assailant in Turn Beaten by 1rate
Citizens.
OUTCOME OF WAR ON OFFICIALS
Adon A. Yoder's Caustic Pen Brings
Down Vengeance Upon
His Head.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

special DSpa1cn 10 Inc STAR.
RICHMOND. Va, August 14-Adcn A.
}oder. publisher of local periodical IN
which he has attacked city officials and
politicians without mercy, was this after
noon attacked by Policeman Griffith and
badly beaten In turn, the policeman was
set upon by several citizens. and was
was attended by a physician. Yoder has
to his rooms in the Park Hotel. where he
was attended by physician. Yoder has
been here several months and has been
publishing The Idea. He has made an
open war on the city officials end the
police department.. and has made some
very disagreeable reading for many men
of prominence.
In an issue Of Friday he declared that
the police force was controlled largely
by w. p. Leaman. a local politician. ana
said that man was recently removed
from the force because he was persistent
I'm enforcing the laws, and that Grimth
who at the time of his appointment 10
put In his place because of the desire to
have lax laws and to punish the d1s-
charged officer for ''pernicious activity.
Both Under Bond.
When Leaman assaulted Yoder he
Yoder struck Leaman once or twice.
Yoder then ran, declaring that Leaman
was too big and strong for him, but
that he was able to take care Of him
self. Leaman was arraigned in police
court and fined SO and put under peace
bonds. Yoder was also put under peace
bonds.
Yoder has been vigorous in his at
tacks on the police department for not
-c,Sy, fp1,f feyty fof
not enforcing the laws against the sale
of liquors and charging that the police
can always be depended on to catch
negro crapShooters and never to modest
of the city" The publications have
been red hot and the fact that Yoder
has not been killed is mystery. He
calls names and speaks fearlessly.
Griffith has been on the force since
the 1st of the month. He attacked
Yoder because it was said he was Lea
mans .'heeler" and supporter, and that
he owed his appointment to Leaman's
influence on the board. The assault ere
ated a great deal of excitement for a
collected at the hotel in which the at
tack occurred and at which Yoder lives.
Griffith Suspended.
Chief Werner informed Mayor Richard
son of the facts and asked that Griffith
be suspended until the case could be in
vestigated. Yoder has been making war
on Leaman, who was a member of the
city democratic committee. and In the
last primary he was defeated, whereat the
Idea gloated considerably.
Yoder is the same man who made such
q vigorous attack on Judge Frank P.
Christian of Lynchburg about year ago,
and was sentenced to Jail and fined for
contempt Of court by that judge. He ap-
pealed the case to the supreme court and
had Judge Christian reversed.
Yoder is badly used up and is confined
to his bed. Griffith went to see Yoder
yesterday and demanded to know why he
had been attacked and dubbed ''heeler
and a puppet,'' and said he did not know
the meaning of ''puppet."
WELL / do. and you had better see
dictionary" is reported to have been
Yoder'S reply.
Griff1th called on Yoder again this aft
ernoon and demanded retraction, and
when Yoder did not comply Griffith said
he would correct it, and then attacked
Yoder.