The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-05-20
EDITOR GORDON
BADLY THRASH[O
BY An ATTORNEY
BTam Robbins, Well Known
Young Attorney, Brings Ed
itoriaI Writer to Task for
viruIent Attack.
KNOCKED HIM DOWN
ON STREET CORNER
Gordon, Bleeding ProfuseIy,
Removed to a Physicians
Office and Later He Was
Taken to His Home.
MOT SERIOUSLY Il OHED
; LAST EVENING THE ITO PRI1r-
ED scuRRILoUs ATTA4k IN D.
IToRiAL COLUMN AND bNE ac-
TIM REvoLTs.

ScurrilOus editorials such as have
been prominent in the Evening Item,
,resulted in an attack upon J. B. Cor
don. its editor. by Byram G. Robbins.
q well known young attorney today.
In fist fight at the corner Of Main
and Seventh streets at about 9:15
o'clock. Robbins knocked Gordon to
the cement pavement and after he
arose rained other blows upon his
head. The fight was interrupted by
bystanders after the combatants had
lgone to the pavement in clinch.
both were orderedIby the police to re-
port at city court this afternoon. H.
~. johnson appeared for Gordon and
tAsked for q continuance. saying Cor
don's condition was such that he could
mot appear.
Robbins Unlnjursd.
.Followtns the fight. Gordon went
TO the Item Office and Robbins con-
ttnued on his way to the court house.
Later Gordon went home. Robbins at
tended to what matters OF business
he had at court and afterward re-
moved the dirt and blood from his
clothing. He left the courthouse for
mis- office In company with his father,
John F. Robbins. He did not show
any physical signs of combat
The meeting Of the two men at the
corner in front Of the First National
bank was by accident Robbins over
took Gordon and asked what refer
ence the editorial In The Item had to
him.
81 read your editorial and you
spoke Of four attorneys connected
with the Harris campaign remarked
Robbins. Il am an attorney and
was identified with that campaign. 50
suppose you meant me as one. Now
which one was it?"
Robbins Strikes Him.
Gordon is said to have answered:
ssYou may draw your own conclusion
about the matter" In answer to
second question from Robbins. Gordon
advised him to make his own infer
ence. Thereupon Robbins struck.
Az the result Of the first blow, Cor
don went down. His head struck the
walk with force enough to bruise it
severely. He arose and Robbins struck
aEain. Gordon tried to return the
blows but was outpointed by Robbins
The two clinched and Robbins lifted
his opponent off his feet, both going
down. A. NJ. Gardner rushed from
across the street and A. d. Gayle, OF
the bank, hurried out and separated
the two.
A crowd of spectators rushed to the
scene at once. There was consider
able excitement. Gordon was bleed
ing profusely about the face and the
blood had bespattered Robbins's face
and clothing. Gordon made his way
to the office OF his newspaper and a
few minutes later was removed to the
! office OF physician in a cab. Later
he was taken to his home on North
Seventeenth street.
Cause Of Trouble.
Under the head "A Civic Uplift,' the
Item last night printed one Of the most
uncalled for and wholly malicious ed
itorials that ever has appeared In the
Item. The attempt was to ridicule
the candidate supported by The Palla-
dium in the recent mayoralty CAM
paign, by attacking by inuendo. four
local attorneys who were identified
with the candidacy. Robbins assum-
ed from perusal Of the stuff, that
since he was an attorney. who was act
i've in his support Of Harris for may
or. Gordon might have intended to di-
rect insinuations against him It was
to discuss the subject that he stopped
Gordon on the street.
The Item editorial was subject TO-
general discussion In the down town
district last night.
But the comment OF last night was
as nothing compared to the whirlwind
TINT carried the news OF the street
fight far and near this morning The
sensation was little short Of the mur-
der Of few days ago. In the rapidity
with which It travelled. It was spo.
ken Of as q regrettable affair By
friends OF both the fighters.
Robbins Makes 9tateMent.
Robbins madA the following state
\ ment this afternoon:
There were just fonr attorneys Who
N1oro ac4lvo 81 the 0uppo9t ok II Har,