The Washington herald., 1909-01-25
MANY FISTS FLY
In COURT ROOM
HammerSteinS and NewSpa-
per Men Resume Feud.
OSCAR KNOCKED OVER BENCH
Sons Rally 10 Aid of ImpresariO
Father, and Lively Mix-up Follows.
Editor HenneSsey Uppercuts Opera
Nauager-POIice Arrest Combatants,
Who Escape with Renri-:and.

New York. Jan. 2f-The encounter be
tween Oscar Hammerstein and two re
porters Of the New York Press, which
occurred on Saturday night in front Of
the Hotel Knickerb0cker and was
thought TO mark the climax of the Ham
merstein-Hennessey feud. proved to be
only curtain raiser 10 the mix-up that
occurred in the jefferson Market Police
Court to-day. when the rival forces met.
one Press reporter was knocked fat
on the sidewalk, William Hammerstein
was slugged in the eye. the redOubtable
Oscar was knocked completely over a
court bench. breaking it into pieces. and
Arthur Hammers1ein escaped n betting
only because he was a little handler with
his fists than his assailants. 1t took the
entire force Of court cops 10 put an end
70 the racket.
The cause OF this fresh outburst was
a message which Managing Editor Hen
nessey Of the Press telephoned TO young
Hammerstein after the arrest Of Mr.
Hennessey's reporters Hennessey wanted
TO know If the elder Hammerstein had
received letters that Mr Hennessey had
sent him. On being informed they had
not been received. Mr.. Hennessey told
the son to tell his father he was a dirty
dog, and that ne (Hsnnessey) would
whip MIN on sight
Mix-up Comes Suddenly.
Oscar and his sons. Arthur and William
were early TO start for court. With
them was Hammerstein's press agent,
William Guard.
They posted themselves on the court
house steps. Presently the Hennessey
.contngent. ten in number. move II sight
4 mix-UD came quickly. Some one made
q move al Guard. and Arthur Hammer
stein shot out his right fist u protect
him The blow caught Michael \ Ford
q brother Of Justice joan Ford. and a
reporter Of the Press. and laid him fat
On the sidewalk
With that there was 2 general mix-up
and fists few Ike fails Several police
men jumped into the fray, and one Of
hem grabbed Arthur Haumersteia. made
Iim a prisoner. hustling him into the
court room. The bejiig=TenJs tTalied after
him.
oscar HammerSJein was standing Just
hack Of the rear row OF seats His son
William Joined him As 3Ir Hennessey
walked past. William pointed him out
Mr.. HennesSey. who declares that he
heard himself called q bad name. made n
rush at Willie Hamuerstein and landed
q terrific upDercUt that sent Willie back
ward over the bench. the fail breaking IL
Instantly the fight became general again
Several court policemen rushed between
ah., F,.sH LT-~~-1---.-- TF-.L....T
Ford, and Fred Barber. the latter two
being Press reporters. were placed under
arrest Oscar sat down on the front
bench to wait developments
Nc Contempt Of Court
Those OF the Press crowd not under ar
rest sat on the back seat With the lat
ter crowd vas Proprietor Einstein, NIessrs.
Hennessey. Ford. and Barber were first
srraigned- They were charged with 'dis-
turbing the peace by fighting. and caus-
ing a crowd 70 collect" Both sides were
represented by counsel Fortunately for
the defendants, court had not convened
when the row took place, so there was
no question OF contempt Of court. Mr..
Hammerstein refused 10 make complaint
against Mr. Henpessey. Magistrate Finn
discharged the defendants with a repri-
mand-
Arthur Hammerstein vas not arraigned.
Ford refused TO make a complaint. and
Magistrate Finn discharged Arthur with
q reprimand.
Presently the case Of the elder Ham
merstein against the men who assaulted
him on Saturday night was called. The
three prisoners were Fred VI. Hall. James
J Doyle, and William J. Heney Judge
Finn demur-ed 20 hearing the case. say
ing that Judge House. before whom the
prisoners were arraig1ed after the as
sault. should have disposed Of the case.
and not sent 1t 10 him. He put this case
over for a week, however, and said he
wanted all parties 70 see Judge House
about IL He refused 10 put the prisoners
under bail, and parOled them in custody
Of their counsel
As the rival contingents moved out Of
court all the cops that could be spared
moved along with them. Il was well that
they did, for matters at once assumed a
squally aspect when the crowd reached
the sidewalk, but they "shooed" the Hen
nessey men away and heTded the Ham
r77e-SrpiuS fo--a ~ fhai- orrfo-,obsToe