Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-05-05
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS

- Governor BleaSe on last frluay
named Kurtz P. Smith of Anderson,
as solicitor for the ninth judicial cir
cult for the term provided by law. Mr..
Smith takes the place of Solicitor p.
A. Bonham, who on Friday became So
licitor of the newly created thirteenth
circuit.
- Charleston special of May 2. 70 the
Greenville News: Mayor John p.
Grace and Mr.. Robert Latham, man
aging editor of the News and Courier,
engaged in a fistic alteration in the
editorial offices of that newspaper
about one o'clock Saturday morning
with results damaging to both in a
greater or lesser degree. Partisans OF
either side claim decided victory, but
those who were eye witnesses of
the stirring combat are inclined to|
the view that the fight was a draw,
The trouble began following a meet
ing of the county Democratic eXecu-
tive committee held in Hibernian hall
on Meeting street early in the even
ing. Here factions took fistic sides
and Deputy Sheriff Leonard was ar
rested by Chief of Police Cantwell,
while the deputy sheriff was attempt
ing to discharge pistol which he had
drawn during the heat of the turmoil.
Thomas P. Lesesne, city editor of the
News and Courier, and Mayor Grace
came to words in the hall shortly be-
fore the fighting factions were dis
perSed and il was understood that
blows were to follow when a crowd of
combatantS came in between and tenn
porarily distracted attention to other
matters OF what happened in the
News and Courier office later, about
an hour after midnight, the News and
Courier of Saturday morning has the
following account Following the
meeting of the county executive COM
mittee last night at the close of which
there were disorders in the corridor
of the Hibernian hall, where the meet
ing had been held, Mayor Grace ac-
cumpanied by Mr.. w. Turner Logan,
visited the editorial rooms of the News
and Courier about 2.30 o'clock this
morning The mayor appeared to be
in a great state of excitement. He be-
gan by issuing threats to the city edi-
tor in the event that reports Of the
nights events were not written as ne
thought they should be written. The
city editor told him that the only pur-
pose of the News and Courier was TO
present reports of what happened.
While Mr.. Logan was engaged in con-
versatiOn with the city editor, Mr..
Grace then entered into conversation
with one of the reporters for the pa
per He began to abuse the News and
Courier in loud voice. This attract
ed the attention of the editor of the
News and Courier, Mr. Robert Lath-
an, who was in his office. Mr.. Latham
came out and asked Mr.. Grace what
was the matter. Mr.. Grace answered
that the paper had been printing re-
ports about him that were not cor
rect and that ii had to stop. Mr..
Latham told him that if he had any
statement to make he could dictate 1t
and il would be printed. He said he
had no statement but began TO abuse
the paper. Mr.. Latham told him that
the News and Courier had always un-
dertaken to treat him with ScrupuiouS
fairness Mr.. Grace answered with
an oath that this was not true. He
announced that he was tired of the
treatment to which he had been sub
iected and that he did not propose to
tolerate il any longer. Mr.. Latham
told him if he had no specific state
ment for publication that he must dis
continue such language. He announc-
ed again with an oath that he would
saw what he pleased and talk as long
rs he pleased. Mr.. Latham then ask
ed him to leave the office He refuS-
cd and defied Mr. Latham to put him
ont Mr.. Latham told him that he had
no wish to employ force, but that he
could not talk as he was talking in
the News and Courier office that he
must get out. Mayor Grace replied
that Mr.. Latham could not put him
out and accompanied this statement