The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-21
FREE FOR ALI FIGHT IN CRAWFORD TRIAL Attorneys for State and De- fense Have Lively Melee ALL ARE UNDER BOND District Attorney Struck in Face and Expert Who Edged Toward the
 Fight Is Attacked by the
 Formers Brother
ALL ARE UNDER BOND

New orleans March 20.-This, the eighth day of the tr.ai of Annie Craw- ford, ended in a near riot in the packed court room when Donald Adams, who Is one of the attorneys defending her on q charge of murdering rer sister, EIlse struck District Attorney St Clair in the face after the renewal of a court room quarrel between the two attorneys earlier in the afternoon. Dr. GustaNe Mann, a defense expert, moved toward the district attorney and was set upon and punched severely by Sturgs Adams brother of the district attorney who was a spectator in the court room.
 All four of the participants were placed under arrest. charged with fighting and disturbing the peace.
 During the fight the scores of spec tators in the court room stood upon benches, one woman is said 10 have fainted, the Crawford woman was showed and tossed about in the melee and several men who stood upon benches were struck and slightly hurt by the blades of an electric fan with which their heads came in contact.
 1ihN days session. which had dragged on with the monotous cross examination of pr. Charles W. Duval, pathofogist and med deal expert for the state, by Joseph Generelly, attorney for the defense.
 The quarrel which led up to the fight came when Donald Adams, who, all though bearing the same family name, ds not related 10 the district attorney, also began to question -ir. Duval.
 Your honor" said District Attorney AdamsS addressing the court, T desire to ask that you enforce the rule that only one attorney at time may ex- anime the witness"
 Invited Outside
 q do not care to be lectured by you, air" said Donald Adams. If you don't like what l have said we can settle 1t outside
 District Attorney adams judmped from his seat
 you want it and you know it." he ex- claimed heated1y.
 The court called the two attorneys to order and then the cross examination of Dr. Duval began agafn.
 When court ordered adjournment un- til 10 o'clock tomorrow morning Dis trict Attorney Adams, smiling, walked over to Donald Adams.
 Well, do you want to settle 1t outsider" he asked with a smile
 '1f you are looking for trouble,' said Donald Adams, with a sheer, "I1l have to send my friends to you, l guess
 Do you mean to say you wish to fight a duel with meY' asked the district at Z -torney, Me, the chief peace officer of fx, p laws? Besides, the code duelo allows a gentleman to refuse an encounter with one of your character
 Adams Strikes First
 Donald Adams then struck the district attorney who struck back according to statements obtained from several wit nesses. At this juncture pr. Mann, one of the experts for the defense, made an attempt to strike the district attorney. Sturgis Adams, who was in the court room, hurled several persons who were in his way aside and punched Dr. Mann several times
 Pandemonium reigned until the contest ants were separated. police detail then entered with drawn clubs and cleared tha court rooom.
 The four participants were then placed under arrest and were released on their own bonds pending trial.
 The prisoner somewhat pale from the excitement, was led from the court room. During the fight a portion of the slides on which Dr. Duval had placed portions of Elise Crawford's liver were smashed. The district attorney, in a statement made after the fight, charged that the fight was started for the deliberate purpose of having the evidence destroyed during the melee.
 The jury witnessed the encounter. but 1t is generally believed this will have no effect on the case. It is not improbable that Judge Frank D. Chretien of the court may later summon the participants to answer contempt proceedings.