Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-29
EXCHANGE ANGRY CHARGES
Mayor Witkowski Tells of the
Fight Laast Sunday.
ON STAND OVER TWO HOURS
Accuses Councilmen Collins and
Weaver Of Assault-Many In
terruptions to Proceedings.

charges and countercharges marked the
hearing of the charges of assault against
Councilmen Collins and Weaver preferred
by Mayor Witkowski. the result of the
fight last Sunday when the mayor of Glen
Echo tried to turn off the water supply
brought in the Rockville police court this
morning before Justice Joseph Reading.
That Mayor Witkowski had offered to al.
low Manager l.. B. Schloss to run the
amusement park for 500 was the intima-
tion made by the attorney for the de-
PENDANTS, John A. Garrett, town clerk
and treasurer and former mayor. and i'm.
plicated in the row. and also unde,
charges brought by Mayor witkowski.
The mayor Indignantly contradicted Mr..
Garrett.
That Mayor Witkowski was intoxicated
at the time of the trouble was also {
declaration of the defense. Mr.. Wit
kowsh admitted meeting some men il
the woods who were provided with a keg
Of beer. of which he shared one glass, he
said. The court ruled out the evidence
Objection to the form Of the oath ad-
ministered to the mayor when he tool
the stand was made by Attorney Garrett
on the allegation that Mr.. Witkowsk
was not competent to swear on the tesla
ment. Mr.. Witkowski declared himself
a member of the Baptist Church and the
court held him competent to take the
oath in the usual form.
Many Interruptions.
Alexander Kilgour. attorney for Mayor
Witkowski. in arguing to an objection
raised by the defense, was interrupted
by Attorney Garrett, who told him that
he would rather have Witkowski testify
than hear Mr.. Kilgour talk. Animosity
of counsel and principal found expires.
sion in many Interruptions and exchange:
Of irritating remarks.
| Witkowski declared that John A. Gar.
rett had defied the national government
| arresting automobilists on the CONDUIT,
| road who should have been immune. Gar.
rett, he said, did not have brains enough
to know that he ought to let the diplo.
mats alone. He charged that Garret,
was the boss of Glen Echo, and a bad
boss at that.
Witkowski was on the stand two and
a half hours. He gave his version of tn,
fight in Glen Echo Park, describing it a
g. brutal and cowardly assault. Eighteel
or twenty men, headed by Garrett. he as
serted, attacked him, and Councilman
yIT@ 1,fv 1,~y
kowski pulled his gun, he said. and Gar.
rett cried out: Don't shoot. I'm un.
armed
Witnesses of Assault.
w. Bryce Claggett, Washington
newspaper man, testified that he had
seen the assault on Witkowski, and tha,
four or five men were on top Of the
mayor as he lay upon the ground Col.
lins, he said, fiourished the key wrench
which he had wrested from Witkowsk
when the mayor attempted to turn of
the water cock with it. Weaver had
Witkowski by the throat. said Claggett
and the Garrett brothers hit Witkowsk
several times, at least twice knocking
him down.
Attorney Garrett attempted to make
Claggett tell the exact number of men in
the crowd that pitched upon Witkowski
The witness said there were about TWEEN
ty, and refused to be more definite.
Bud" Reilly testified that Mayor Wit
kowski proposed to make him town mar
shall, and'that when Town Clerk Garret
heard of 1t he threatened to knock of
Witkowski's block Reilly was a spec
tator of the attack on WitkowSki, he
said. and sought cover behind a tire,
when the mayor f1Ourished his revolver.
The hearing was then adjourned until