The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-10-22
GEER AND LOGAN
EXCHANGE BLOWS
FIsTICJFF MARKS CORONER'S IN
YESTIGATION.
Jury Foreman Charges Coaching Wit.
ness But WithdraWs it After
Clash is Settled.
Staff CORRESPONDENCE. The State.

Charleston, Oct. 20.-Hardly had TO-
DAYS session of the Cohen inquest
been convened when a fisticuff oc-
CURED between W. Turner Logan OF
counsel for the police department and
andrew J. Geer, foreman Of the coro-
ner's jury, as a result of the foreman's S
directly charging the attorney with
coaching witness. James Sotille, in
the session of last evening.
"That is an absolute lie" said Mr..
Logan
"Yod can't call me a liar" Foreman
Geer explained.
The men advanced toward each 9TH
er and blows had been exchanged be-
fore Capt. Meyer the ranking military
officer present, could intervene. Capt.
Meyer seized Mr.. Geer and sentry
grappled with Mr.. Logan. A celloquy
followed and the incident closed when
Mr.. Geer said he would accept Mr.. Lo-
gan's denial and withdrew the charge.
The foreman said he was sorry if he
had been mistaken in his interpreta-
ton of Mr.. Logans' gestures. He asked
the coroner to strike the incident from
the record and requested newspaper
men present not to report it.
Says Witness Was Coached.
James Sotille is president of the Isle
Of Palms company and proprietor Of
the Charleston hotel. He testified yes
terday regarding incidents Of the riot
ing in the city Democratic executive
committee headquarters last Friday
which came under his observation this
morning. Mr.. Geer said he wished to
make a statement. He said that yes
terday he saw with mis- own eyes an
attorney deliberately coaching a wit
ness on the stand with view to draw
ing answers favorable to certain par
ties. He said he wished to say that
on a repetition of the offense the at
torney or attorneys responsible would
be dealt with according to law in such
cases. Mr.. Logan said he thought the
foreman in justice to all the lawyers
present should designate the man to
whom he had reference. Mr.. Geer
said he would name the man if the cor
oner so instructed him. Coroner Mans
field said it was proper the name
should come out.
"Tne attorney in question is Mr.. Lo-
gan," said Mr.. Geer.
After the fsticuff that ensued had
been stopped Mr.. Logan insisted that
his witness of yesterday be recalled
to testify regarding the foreman's III
sinuation.
"That is an imputation I would not
allow any man to make" he said.
He appealed to W. H. Grimball, act
ing solicitor, and Wade Hampton Cobb
solicitor of the Fifth circuit, who is
assisting Mr.. Grimball, to say whether
they had seen him coaching witnesses.
Both said they had not.
'sNow, Mr.. Geer," said Mr.. Logan,
"you will answer to me for that. You
wait until we get out of this court
house. That is slander against my
reputation. You have greatly injured
me and l feel it very deeply, sir"
Mr.. Logan apologized to the coro-
ner for making a disturbance.
Grace Takes 1t Up.
Later Mr.. Grace came in and after
he and Mr.. Logan had consulted to-
gether, Mr.. Logan reopened the dis
cussion. He wished Sotille recalled.
He asked individual members of the
jury if they would not move to have
this done. None replied. Mr.. Grace
said such a charge against his partner
was a charge against himself.