The New York herald., 1922-01-06

nett. but what he said was, THE lady OF
the house or the porter" and continued
to apply his finger TO the push button.
Now the elderly gentleman who said
What do you wantY was not LOGGER.
He was William Henry Carpenter. A. b.,
Phi. D.. Willard professor Of German
philology and provost of Columbia Uni
versity. He has fewer degrees than Prof.
Bennett, but on che other hand he is
the author of "Grundriss der Neuis-
landischen Grammatik" and Nicholas
drapa Halls Prest" and has been q mem
Der of the Columbia faculty since 1889.
All of which was at the moment un-
happily unknown to Prof. Bennett.
What happened between the two pro-
fessors there on the stoop in West llIth
street and the blame therefor is mat
ter for determination by Magistrate
Sweetser
Prof. Carpenters story was told to the
court by his son. John Tilney Carpen-
ter. a lawyer. In brief 1t was: Prof.
Carpenter had just left his home. but
turned back when he saw stranger
climb the steps and ring the bell. lie
asked the stranger to desist, as the only
person In the house was maid and, as
she was probably asleep. the sound of
the bell would needlessly awaken her.
If the door needed TO be opened Prof.
Carpenter himself was there to open 1t.
AS Prof. Bennett kept right on ringing
and ignoring the others admonishment,
Prof. Carpenter was obliged to brush
Prof. Benefits hand away from the push
button. This he did gently with his cane.
What then was the Columbia's provost's S
establishment when Prof. Bennett wheeled
about and sank his right fist against
Prof. Carpenters right eye and the side
of his nose. Nothing like this had ever
happened to Prof Carpenter before. 1t
was with difficulty that he stopped the
flow of blood from his nose.
Another Chapter to Come.
Apparently there were no impartial
witnesses Of the encounter. \ professor
of Greek. a professor of journalism and
half dozen others were in court in be-
half of Prof. Carpenter, but seemingly
as character witnesses. The Magistrate
decided to hear Prof. Benefits story on
January ~. and meanwhile he held him
In 500 bail on a charge Of disorderly
conduct.
Prof Bennett said to reporter last
night: You must understand, IN the first
place, that Prof. Carpenter and myself
were strangers to each other. and that 1
had no idea l was standing on his stoop.
He spoke to me brusquely. and ignored
him because 1 thought he was an in
quisitive boarder. l did tell him.
however that / had arranged for accom-
mediation In the house (Which thought
was 42D.
IT kept on ringing. lie swung his
cane and hit me hard on the wrist. He
says Il was a love tap, but / assure you
it was anything but that. Removing
my hand from the bell, / swung it side
ways and struck his nose with the side
OF my hand, not hard. you understand.
then backed away and took off my
glasses, as ! thought he might attack
me again. He said something like L
have been member of the faculty OF
Columbia for forty years
We'll, as for that / said, I'm a
professor myself. and to me you are an
officous,. arbitrary old man. Give me
your name and address,
"'Ycu are a scoundrel. crook. Get
away from here. Get off the sidewalk,
he said. l hunted around until / found
a lady who told me who he was. i made
n complaint at the office of the uni
versity / called up Magistrate Marsh.
and he advised me to get into touch
with the District Attorney.
by that time ! had cooled OFF and
was thinking. oh. well, Prof. Carpenter
is man OF standing I'll let the whole
thing slide.
But he went to court. tried to get a
warrant and did get a summons. in re-
sponsc to which ! appeared in court