The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-03-28
w. J. Roberts Attacked by James
Harrington, Lately Returned
From West, and Struck in
Face Twice
AFFAIR rs NOW IN COURT
Harrington Made Defendant in lnfor-
nation Charging Him With
Assault to Do Great
Bodily Injury.


ed an unexpected attack by James
Harrington, a former Keokuk attor-
ney, upon Attorney W. j. Roberts,
which occurred in front of the keokuk
Savings bank, shortly after 1890
o'clock this morning. Roberts was
struck two forceful blows on the left
side OF the face, Harrington's action
being witnessed by a score or more OF
| people. When the ARRAY had subsidized
! the victim went to nearby drug store
for temporary relief and then wended
his way to the justice court of James
/ S. Burrows, where an information was
/ filed charging Harrington with assault
with intent to commit great bodily in
jury. Later when Constable Thomas
| Warner went to the Harrington home
1 it was learned that Roberts assailant
/ had gone to the country on business
and the warrant for his arrest will not
be served until some time this after
noon.
/ The facts connected with the as
sault as far as were seen by the casual
observer of this Main street excite
tment today are few, but the conjecture
of Attorney Roberts as to the cause
prompting the assault is interesting.
Lasted But Few Minutes.
Roberts was going towards Fifth
street from Sixth on the north side
of the street, and had reached the
Keokuk Savings bank frontage when
he met Mr. Harrington, whom he had
not seen since his return from the
west. From what can be learned the
two had always been friends, and es-
pecially had friendship existed on the
part of Roberts. Following the cour-
teous custom, Roberts extended his
hand in greeting, but Harrington
waved it aside, saying: I've been
waiting for this for ten years. and
i with these words let go two heavy
swings, which only stopped when
they landed upon the unprotected left
cheek of the older man. So quick did
it all come that Roberts was unable
to defend himself, but managed to
keep his footing
In a nearby cigar store at the time
was seated Tom Paul, who witnessed
the affair, and, rushing out to Harrilg
ton, grabbed him by the arm, to pre-
vent further battle. Harrington
seemed to have satisfied his thirst fol
revenge and sauntered off.
Roberts Explanation as to Cause.
Mr. Roberts was questioned as te
the probable cause and was asked Il
enmity had existed between the two
in recent years.
The only thing he could recall was
an examination before the supreme
court which Harrington took previous
says he was on the committee the frs
time Harrington took the examination
in which he failed. According to the
attorney. Harrington finished the ex
animation in about half the time usu
: ally required and in the evening add
: tion of the Leader, which later con
solidated with the Register, publish et
an interview with Harrington TIL,
!, next morning Harrington was cha
: grined when he read of his failure II
the Register. Roberts is of the opin
ion that Harrington has been boldin;
: an enmity against him because h
), was under the impression that tn
/. former had something to do with hi
/ papers. which Roberts says he neye
f saw
: Harrington left Keokuk some year
: ago, going to the west, and returne
! but month or more ago. 1t is under
. stood that he has been interested il
J some mining property since leavin
a the CITY.