The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-09-25
INJURED ACTOR
ACCUSES M'GRAW
Of HITTING HIM
Giants Chief Denies Assault
Ing LaCkaye, Declaring
Latter Hurt in SCuffIe After
Being Put Que of House.

NEW YORK. Sept, 25.-Wilton
Laokaye, the actor. is in hospital suf-
fering from fractured ankle, re-
ceived, he explained late yesterday,
when John McGraw, manager and part
owner OF the New York Giants, hit
him as he was leaving McGraw's home
here last Saturday supposedly good
friends. The actor declared that when
he was bidding McGraw good night"
the Giants manager put out his right
hand as II to shake hands, but in
stead suddenly shot his left to Lack
ayes jaw. Lackaye fell to the floor
and fractured his ankle.
Il had been away most of the sum
mer," Lackaye said, "and did not know
much about the recent nasty mess
McGraw was mixed up in at the Lambs
club when he got into a fight with
William Boyd. When / returned,
mutual friend told me McGraw had
been suspended from the Lambs, had
lost most OF his friends and felt very
bad. sent McGraw a message and
told him that | would like to see him,
as was always his friend. Later
telephoned him and he invited me to
his house-that was last Saturday night.
! went to the house and in the interest
of friendship I told him the best thing
TO do was to forget about the Lambs
affair
"McGraw suddenly became suspicious
and demanded to know who had sent
me there. told him no one had sent
me and l was acting on my own initia-
tive. l also told him that If he felt
any suspicion toward my motives
would have to leave. It was then that
put out my hand to shake hands
with McGraw and he attacked without
warning.
when I put out my hand McGraw
put out his right hand, but suddenly
drew back with his left and hit me
In the jaw. ] crumpled up in a sofa
by my side with my right ankle twisted
under me. I got up then and aimed n
few wallops at McGraw, but the fight
was stopped by others in the room.
I went to the street without assistance
and called cab and IL was not until
the next day when | saw a physician
that learned that my ankle was frac-
tured."
Mr.. McGraw issued a signed state
ment late last night, denying that he
had assaulted Mr.. Lackaye. The actor,
he added, called at the McGraw apart
ment Of his own voliton about mid
night Saturday and was under the in
fuence ot liquor.
After some little talk" the state
ment says, 'LaCkaye said he under
stood I was to make statement
against the Lambs club. I replied that
II | did It was my own affair. In reply
TO this he became abusive using vile
and indecent language. l demonstrated
with him, telling him that Mrs. Nc
Graw was within hearing, and insisted
on him leaving my home.
He refused, whereupon two of my
guests-Magistrate Francis Y McQuade
and b. J. Pratt, OF Chicago-escorted
him TO the door After he got outside
the door he kicked one of my guests
Mr.. Praitt-and in the scuffle that fol-
lowed slipped to the floor. did not
see anything that happened outside
my premises, and did not strike Mr..
LaCkaye at any time"
Magistrate McQuade. who was with
Mr.. McGraw when the statement was
issued, explained he was present. as
stated in McGraw's statement, and
that Lackaye used terrible language"
He said he and Mr.. Pratt escorted
Lackaye outside the McGraw apart
ment after McGraw had appealed to
them to have Lackaye leave.
Mrs. MCGraw coTroborated the text
Of her husbands statement and also
Magistrate McQuade's remarks.