Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-09-23
POLITICS CAUSE FIGHT.
The Clements Donaldson Encounter
Charges and Counter
Charges.

| Alleging a political plot to ruin his
campaign for the Office OF common
wealth's attorney OF A1exanolla
county, Attorney James p. Clements
charged With assault with a deadly
weapon on Amos Donaldson, political
worker. in front OF Georgetown res.
taurant, declared last night be would
TODAY swear out warrants for Donald
sons arrest. He will charge assault
and battery and disordelly conduct.
The shooting occurred about IL
O'Clock in front of R. Koester's restau-
raunt, 1922 NJ street northwest. Both
men had been in the restaurant talking
politics until the argument became per-
sonal, it is said, and Clements left the
restaurant. Donaldson followed and a
tussle occurred. Friends parted the
pair after one shot had been fired, the
bullet striking, the pavement few
inches from the feet Of the combatants.
The hammer OF the pistol was found on
second cartridge, which failed to ex-
plotle, while the pistol was beld in the
air by Donaldson.
Donaldson says the shooting was an
attempt to put him out OF the way, as
he is one OF Clements bitterest enc
mics in the campaign. Donaldson is
one OF Commonwealth Attorney
Crandal Mackey's lieutenants, it is
said, in the latter's fight for reelection.
He saws the fight was caused by Glenn
ents' enmity toward him. This is de-
MED by Clements, who says Donaldson
was hired by political rivals to waylay
him 10 front OF this restaurant, and
employ smuggling tactics to put him out
OF the race. Donaldson denies that he
struck blow in the encounter, while
Clements says he was struck repeatedly
over the heart and stunned for several
seconds.
Donald son is firm in his belief that
Attorney Clements tried to kill him,
and said last night that he would not
withdraw his prosecution for all the
money in Alexandria county.
He called me liar" said Donald
son. ANY one would get mad if call
ed that. l went out from the restaurant
and Clements pulled bis revolver. |
did not strike him. I did not have the
opportunity, for as soon as I came out
he had the gun ready, and | began to-
fight to keep myself from getting shot.
AS he was lifting the gun up to aim at
me pulled his hand down and the shot
struck the pavement. The fire scorch.
cd the left side OF my coat, and the
smoke curled up under my arm, !
struggled with him until | forced his
hand I'D in the air, where | held it
until the police took the gun away
from him."
Clements was formerly common
wealth's attorney of Alexandra county
but was defeated several years ago for
reelection. There has been considera-
BILE ill feeling since Mr.. Clements's
announcement to run against
Mackey. :.
Six years ago ia the Alexandria
county courthouse Mr.. Clements had a
fight with Attorney Frank Lyon, editor
of weekly paper, over story pub
lished. in which he drew pistol and
hit Lyon on the head with the weapon.
In the tussle Clements says he was
struck several times, sustaining serious
injury to his head.
Clements is Sc years old. After
serving for about fifteen years as COM
monwealth attorney OF Alexandria
county he was superintendent OF
schools.