Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-29
DR.. STARNES IS
ASSAULTED BY
ORGAN TENDER
George LaMarche InfIicts Black
Eye on Musician at Close of
Auditorium Rehearsal,
MISSLALLA CANNON WITNESS
AssaiIant Declares the Musician
Called His Wife Liar in
Phone Conversation.

Dr. Percy L. Starnes. whose genius
as a musician has brought Joy to
thousands, and who announced yes
terday his resignation as city organ
list, figured in a sensational fight in
the Auditorium late Saturday after
noon, which was witnessed by Miss
Lalla B. Cannon, the Atlanta girl who
won an operate prize of $4,000 a year
in New York, and has been hailed as
the possessor Of the great American
voice"
The fight-although as a matter Of
fact, all the fighting seems to have
been on one side--is shrouded in some
mystery. The noted organist claims
it was precipitated solely by the fact
that he had reported George E. La
Marche, organ tender, for failure to
perform his work properly.
LaMarche it was, according to the
Doctor, who did all the battling, Civ
ing the organist a souvenir in the
shape of a badly cut right eye that
he will wear almost until the day his
resignation takes effect, which is Au-
gust /.
Twelve Blows Land.
DR.. Starnes said he had just finish
ed rehearsing with Miss Cannon at
the Auditorium to-day for the re-
cital and was about to enter his Of
flee when LaMarche jumped on him
from behind, hitting him about twelve
blows. One of them landed on the
Doctors right eye and it took cleo
trical treatment from a medical at
tendant to make it at all present.
able
The musician said he did not re-
taliate, merely doing his best to pro-
tect himself, and the attack was end
ed by Auditorium attaches, while
Miss Cannon loked on, Mortified.
Later in the evening, DR.. Starnes
proceeded to police station, laid his
case before Chief of Police Beavers
and preferred charges against the
organ tender.
He insisted that the attack was en-
tirely unprovoked, and was caused
probably by the fact that he had re-
ported LaMarche not only to the At
lanta Music Festival Association, but
to the organ company as well for
failure to properly care for the mag
nificent instrument
LaMarche's Story Differs.
He expressed the opinion that La
Marche was evidently not in full pos
session Of his mental faculties-at
least at the time of the battle.
LaMarche late Saturday night told
a much different story of the cause
of the affray
about a week ago DR. Starnes
called my wife up over the telephone
and in the course Of the conversation
practically called her liar" declared
LaMarche. 81 was out of town at
the time, but when I returned Mrs
LaMarche acquainted me with
Starnes' action, and at once made an
appointment with him to meet me at
the Auditorium.
when l met Starnes I demanded
that he apologize to my wife. He
told me that If | claimed that he had
said such thing to my wife that
was liar He said it in the presence
of several witnesses in the 'obby of
the Auditorium. We were facing each
other at the time.
Il said:
"'You have insulted a lady and il
is more than | can stand for
Il struck him and knocked him
down. That was all there was to the
difficulty. l hope that | did not in
| jure Starnes seriously, but my action
| was the only one that a gentleman
! could taxa under the circumstances :"