New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-22
Slavin Better:
New Version
OfFightCiven
Latest Story Says McCraw-
BOYD Row at the Lambs
Was Due to Discussion of
u. S. and English Stage
Report Melee Was General
Giants Managers Attorney
Insimases Actor May Have
Been Injured in Club

The condition of John G. Slavin. the
actor who WAS picked up in front Of
the home OF John j. McGraw, manager
and part owner of the Giants. on May
S, with fractured skull. showed
marked improvement at st. Luke's
Hospital yesterday The patient has
gained so much strength in the last
twenty -four hours, it was said, that it
is thought he will recover.
The row between McGraw and Will
lam A. Boyd, an actor, at the Lambs
few hours before Slavin rode to Nc
Graw's home with the manager of the
Giants and Winfield Liggett. received
still another Interpretation yesterday.
The newest story alleges that the
Boyd McGraw fight followed an argu
ment over the merits of British and
American actors which was taking
place between Boyd and group of
Lambs when McGraw entered the grill
room.
A member Of the Lambs is authority
for the statement that McGraw, obliv-
discussion. began quarrel with Boyd
over Q personal matter, and when he
discovered the nature of the Argument
in progress at Boyd's table joined the
discussion, taking sides with the pro
American participants.
Boyd has said that he sought to
avoid "a physical encounter with the
manager of the Giants. He rcmon
strated with McGraw over the charac
ter Of his language before scrubwom-
en-, an officer of the club has said.
Then McGraw attacked him. The new
version OF the quarrel now relates that
this fight was the outcome of the Brit
ish American controversy; that it was
general. and that bottles and the light
er pieces OF furniture in the grill room
left their customary places and went
sailing through the air.
William j. Falon, counsel for Nc
Graw, strongly intimated yesterday
that it is his opinion that the actors
skull was fractured in the melee.
This theory was discredited last night
by q member of the Lambs, who says
he witnessed part Of the h@ht at the
club.
He said he was playing. cards with
other members on the top floor when
they heard racket. They sped down
stairs and arrived just as the mana
ger OF the Giants was rushing at Boyd,
the member said.
Slavin stepped between the two af-
ter several blows had been exchanged.
For Gods sake. cut this out, both
of you." the actor exclaimed, accord
ing to this member. He said Slavin,
with the help of others, succe> led in
parting the fighters. and then the &C
tor led McGraw to the washrcom and
bathed wounds on his face.
The fight was resumed few minutes
later, and halted again after the ex-
change of several more blows, most of
which left marks upon McGraw's face.
Slavin and Liggett then led McGraw
to taxi.
According to this member, Slavin ap-
peared to have suffered no injury what
ever He said he could not assert
positively that the actor had not been
injured, but it was his opinion that
Slavin departed from the Lambs I'M
hurt.
An investigation into the fight by the
house committee of the Lambs few
days after it occurred resulted in the
report that Slavin left the club without
injury and in the capacity of a peace
maker to escort McGraw home. The
committee later furnished the District
Attorney with the names of witnesses
of the affair. All of these names have
hepn wit hhol1