The San Francisco call., 1909-04-21
.D'ABBANS PAID IN
BRUISES, NOT COIN
Invades Pacific Union Club in
Quest of $1,000; Departs
With Black Eye

Count F. de Jouffroy dAbhans, at
tache of the French consular service,
went to the Pacific Union club yester-
day with the determination of collect
ing $1,000 as satisfaction from John
d. Spreckels, and departed precipitately
with a black eye, bruised jaw and a
dim realization of how he had sustained
those decorations.
This affair was the crowning act of
the counts career in San Francisco
career of the details of which are not
altogether fit for publication. 1t was
the third imbroglio since he was
shipped over here from Paris. He
leaves for New York this morning
on his way back to Paris, taking with
him visible tokens of the esteem and
regard in. which he was held here.
The count had deemed himself in
jured by Spreckels because The Call
had printed accounts of his several
diplomatic moves in this city-from
being thrashed by a chauffeur whose
wife he had invited to luncheon. to
disturb the speeches being made at
banquet of the Sons of the American
Revolution. Hearing that Spreckels
was lunching at the Pacific Union club
yesterday, he rolled himself thither in
an automobile, sent in his card. got an
interview and made known his press
ing desire for $1,000 on the spot as
satisfaction" What followed was
witnessed by a number of the clubs
nnen1harS al lc n a hhQ hat
while he was pleased to hold himself
responsible for anything published in
The Call, he was not familiar with the
details of the case. He fatty told
D'Abbans that If he had any claim
against the paper he would have to
pursue it in a legitimate way.
DRAWS AMERICAN RETORT
Thereupon D'Abbans suddenly lifted
his gloved hand and struck Mr.. Spreck-
els light and unexpected blow in the
face. He had an idea that Mr.. Spreck-
els would bow politely, make arrange
ments to have his friends wait upon his
assailanr and otherwise follow the rules
ard regulations of the Paris code for
the conduct of affaires d'honneur. But
that was not at all what Mr. Spreckels
did. The counts ladylike smack drew
a rapidsfire retort on the ruder Ameri-
can plan. 1t sent the count staggering
half across the club reception room and
into the arms of another m\nber who
had stepped forward at the first sign of
clash None too gently this member
relieved himself of his diplomatic bur-
den. When D'Abbans awoke to a more
or less perfect realization of what had
happened he had ceased to crave salts
faction. He was busy feeling of his
eye and reassuring himself as to his
other features Members who had wit
messed the incident assisted D'Abbans
to chair. AS soon as he had got his
breath they intimated that he would do
we'll to leave the club. and this he did
without parley or delay.
COUNT is SATISFIED,
To his friends D'Abbans said he had
met with an automobile accident. They
doubted his word. however, and anx-
iously asked him whether or not he had
Uied to argue with a streetcar. He
looked the part. The count was, never
theless, satisfied. He strutted up and
down the lobby of the Fairmont hotel.
a black eye peeping from out the layers
OF powder and a swollen Jaw giving
queer twist to his face
What is a black eye to my happy
feeling of satisfaction" he said What
is this bump on my mouth? Nothing.
He injured me and hit him. 1 am a
friends they said he was a big man
and could fight. They said Go at him
with club but no gentleman uses
clubs or revolver or knives. A gentle
man slaps with his gloved hand; so,,
The affair created the deepest indig-
nation in the French colony. II regret
exceedingly" said Consul General
Henri Merou. that this should have
happened. I hope. however, that the
members of the Pacific Union club and
Mr.. Spreckels realize that Count dab
bans action was that of stupid per-
son, and nothing more ] had hoped
that he would leave the city without
any more scandal. / am completely
out of patience with him. His actions
have been those of child"
D'Abbans is said 70 have retained his
consular position In San Francisco
solely because OF the regard in which
his father Is held in the French con-
sular service. Many things have been
forgiven. 1t was hoped that he would.
however. see the folly of his course
and behave in a rational manner. but
the count had other views and the
upshot is that he leaves the city This
with his reputation as badly
disfgured as his features.