Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-07-22
Dr. w. H. Taylor Stabs Little Rock Mayor in
 Back and Left Arm.
GOSSIPERS CAUSE
 OF APPRECIATION
Clash Between Capital City Executive and Retired Physician Result of RMmOr Linking Mayors Name
 Nilh That of Young Woman.

Little Rock. July 21.-Mayor Charles F. Taylor was cut in the back and left arm during an altercation with pr. w. II. Taylor. aged Fl, at the intersection of Second and Louisiana streets this forenoon. Mayor Taylor was not badly hurt. and, after hav ing the cuts dressed by a physician nearby, he went about his business.
 The quarrel and subsequent stab ping grew out of the rumors linking the name of Mayor Taylor with that of young woman recently married. These rumors, circulated during the mayors recent absence in New York, where he spent several weeks ar- ranging loan for the city, were the subject of discussion at meeting of the mayors friends several nights ago, when a secret committee of five was named to trace the origin of the islander" and bring about the pun ishment of the author.
 Mayor Taylor was standing at the corner of Second and Louisiana this forenoon, conversing with Prof. J. G. Cubage, Sharp Dunaway, and w. E. Butler, when Dr. Taylor came along, was accosted by the mayor, and the fight ensued.
 Mayor Taylor's Version.
 Mayor Taylor's statement regarding the affair is to the effect that several days ago Dr. Taylor same to the mayors office, admitted he had re- peated the rumor, but since had be- come convinced the rEmor was false, and expressed regret that he had been instrumental in giving it circula- tion. The mayor said he apologized for his part, and that he accepted the apology in the spirit in which it was made.
 The mayor then stated that this morning he was speaking to MT. But Ter, who had given him the informa- ton connecting Dr. Taylor with the rumor, concerning the doctors apol- ogy; that MT. Butler said he under stood Dr. Taylor had denied saying ogized for so doing.
 "Just then," the mayor says, "I saw Dr. Taylor approaching, and I said. There comes Dr. Taylor now. I'll ask him about it, and straighten this out"
 Mayor Taylor stated he accosted Dr. Taylor and inquired concerning the incident, asking if he had not said he believed the rumor false, and re- gretted that he had repeated it. The mayor said Dr. Taylor called him damned liar," applied a vile epthet, and advanced in threatening atti- tude, which caused him to strike the doctor.
 Mayor Taylor says he realized that Dr. Taylor an old man, and did not wish to hurt him, so he tried to hold his antagonists arms and shove him away. Later, the mayors friends called attention to the fact that his coat and shirt had been cut, and he then discovered that Dr. Taylor had used knife.
 Dr. Tayl0r's Side.
 Dr. Taylor, who is retired physi- clan and resides at 15 Arch street, also issued a statement in regard to the incident. He explains that while Mayor Taylor was in New York he heard rumor to the effect that May or Taylor had been shot. Some days later, he says, he was accOsted by a MT. Hamilton, who asked if he had heard the rumor about Mayor Tay- Tor, the questioner expressing the opinion that nobody believed it any way. Dr. Taylor says he thought MT. Hamilton alluded to the report that the mayor had been shot, and he re-, piled, "I know of two men who be- lieve it." He stated nothing was then said about the rumor linking the mayors name with that of young woman, which he hal not heard at that time. Some days later, he says, Mr. Hamilton came to see him, and said Mayor Taylor desired to see him. The doctors statement says he went to see the mayor, an1 explained that when he told Hamilton 1.-two men be- lieved it, he had reference to the rumor that the mayor had been shot; that the mayor accepted the ex- planation, and he considered the in- cident closed.
 Dr. Taylor's statement then goes on to say that the~ mayor accosted him this morning with the demand that he tell these gentlemen" about his alleged characterization of the