New-York tribune., 1918-02-28
Osborne Punches
Lawyer i'm Court;
Both Apologize
Counsel for McGee Called
Elusive divers Dou-
bic a Liar

James w. Osborne, who was mistaken
recently for the elusive "Olivcr Os-
borne" upset the dignity of Justice
Gcfs courtroom yesterday during the
trial Of Detective Frank McGee on the
charge of neglect of duty in the Ruth
Cruger case by punching Frank Aranow.
counsel for McGee, on the jaw while
Aranow was summing up the case. The
cause was Aranow's accusation that
Mr.. Osborne, as special Assistant Dis
trict Attorney, deliberately Lied to the
grand jury. A few hours later the jury
found McGee not guilty of the charge
Aranow was assuring the jurors that
If it were in his power to indict CT
ticials for wilful neglect of duty he
would have indicted Mr.. Osborne and
Assistant District Attorney Talley, who
worked with Mr.. Osborne in preparing
the prosecution Of McGee, acting Cap
tain Alonzo Cooper and John L. La
garennc.
81 would have indicted these two for
wlful neglect Of duty" cried Aranow,
"because they said things to this man
in the presence of the grand jury that
they knew was a lie. | don't make any
mistake about that
do you mean to say that | liedl"
shouted Mr.. Osb>rae, jumping to his
feet
II meant just what said. I"--
- don't allow any man to call me
lar" thundered Osborne
Aranow got no further Osborne
landed his right full on Aranow's
right cheek before the astonished
lawyer could interpose his arm. Then
they clinched. Instantly the court
room was in an uproar. Justice Gotf
was banging his gavel eXcitedly. Cap
( tain Thomas Fitzgibbon, of the court
squad, and Edward Shalborg, the
stenographer, tried to pull the lawyers
apart. Attorey Florence Sullivan, Mr..
Aranow's associate. finally interposed.
"Sit down, sir!" said Justice GotY
to Attorney Osborne. There was no
need for further command The prose-
cbcyed. Mr.. Aranow looking consider
ably confused, pulled himself together
and in few seconds was resuming his
summation. Meanwhile the spot on his
cheek grew red and began to swell
During the luncheon hour a news
PAPER man who had known the lawyers
we'll for several years brought about q
meeting, and they were seen to shake
hands. When Mr.. Osborne came tc
sum UP for the prosecution in the
afternoon he laid stress on the i'm.
possibility of his taking any unfai,
advantage of the defendant with "that
august body Of citizens, the granc
jury"
About $3.50 in the afternoon, while
the jury was celebrating, Justice Gof
called the lawyers before him and tole
them what shock the encounter hat
been to him. Never in all his expert
encc as jurist, he said, had anything
like that ever happened in his presence
y Discounting zeal for his client, Justice
tions We're unjustltiable. Knowing thu
Talley, he said, counsel for the defenc.
Turning 10 Mr.. Aranow, Justice Gof
demanded the lawyer to apologize t,
MIR. Osborne and Mr.. Talley. The lat
ter was not in court when the troubl,
occurred. The apology vas sutisfactori
ly made.
GAS to you,r said Justice GoF. ad
dressing Mr. Osborne. "you had n,
right 10 resort to violence to aveng
an insult. You should havesappealed t,
this court now ask that you otfe
your apologies to the court" Wherea
Mr.. Osborne again apologized
The jury returned in about an hou
with the verdict OF acquitta for Nc
Gee Meanwhile a jury was being Sc
. ,ected for the trial of Acting Captail
: Alonzo B. Cooper. in charge of tn
9TH Branch Detective Bureau whe,
Ruth Cruger was murdered by Alfred
! Cocchi in his motorcycle repair sho
IN West loTt, Street