The New York herald., 1922-02-28
70 CRACKS SOS JAW
AT HISTORY HEARING
Civil War Veteran and
Lawyer Quarrel Over
Washington.
ANTHEM IN DISPUTE
Hirshfield Thinks Star
Spangled Banner Is Tune
of God Save the King
OLD EVENTS M0DERNIZED
Boston Tea Party Compared to
Possible Rising. Against
Port Authority.
OLD EVENTS MODERNIZED

Blows were exchanged yesterday by
two of the speakers at the hearing on
history books held by David Hirsh-
field, Commissioner of Accounts. at
vided a lively climax to a stormy de-
bate that many of the spectators re-
garded as farcical in the extreme.
The fight took place in a corridor q
few moments after the Commissioner
had adjourned the hearing. 1t was
the elimination of a quarrel between
Francis II. Kinnicutt lawyer of 2f
Cedar street and Thomas p. Tuite. a
civil war veteran, which Commissioner
Hirshfield had some difficulty in quell-
ing earlier in the debate.
Mr.. Kinnicutt was struck by a
neatly placed blow on the jaw which
sent him reeling back among the
spectators after he had called his ad-
Nersary "a liar" The lawyer is in TIE
early thirties. well over six feet and
of athletic build Mr.. Tuite is past 70,
of stocky build and fiery spirit.
I've fought in two wars" Tuite said
afterward, 'and I'll be the veteran OF
another one If anybody jumps on the
United States.''
Crowd Surrounds LAWYER.
When Mr.. Kinnicutt attempted 60 de-
fend himself by sending a few punches
In the general direction of Mr.. Tuite's
face anger welled up among the spec
tators and it looked for a moment as
though the lawyer might be badly
mauled by those who resented his tao
tics He hit me first" protested the
lawyer. glancing in the direction of a
policeman. as the crowd began surging
around him.
Tuite seemed eager for another round
regardless Of his age. and the venerable
spectacles perched on his nose. Mr.. Kin
nicutt retired to the hearing chamber
while the crowd gathered about Mr..
Tuite and congratulated him on his
courage. The actual cause of the fight.
outside OF the bad feeling engendered at
the hearing, was an afgume,.u over
Marshall's Life of Washington" at a
previous hearing.
Mr.. Tuite had brought five volumes
neatly wrapped I'm paper to convince the
lawyer of the accuracy of his argument
and had offered them to him to read.
when Mr.. Kinnicutt replied Read
them yourself and find out what is
right" whereupon the war veteran re-
torted: You wouldn't read them any
way. because you're pro- British. You're
You're liar" cried Mr.. Kinnicutt.
and the next moment staggered back
on his heels from the impact of a blow
that landed square on the jaw.
Nobody can call me a liar on
matter OF fact and get away with IL
The big dub, "-said Tuite.
Much OF the session was taken IN
with arguments over the origin of THE
Star Spangied Banner" Mr.. Tuite, who
is an executive officer of the star
Spangled Banner Association, said II
was set to the tune OF a popular march
ing air but Telfair Minton, a school
lecturer OF / East F'lfty-first street as
serted the music was that of "Anconia. ("
an old English drinking song.
Commissioner Hirshfield thought the
tune was God Save the King" and for
this reason thought IL might be a good
idea II some one wrote a really Ameri-
can air and mot deprive tn, British of
their own cherished anthem"
commissioner hlrshneld frequently en-
livened the hearing by bringing history
up TO date by modern allusions 10 past
events, such as the Boston Tea Party
and the alleged smuggling by John Han
cock. THE people of Boston objected
to the heavy taxes they were forced to
pay, imposed by the port authority. !"
said Mr.. HirshHeld ct one point. "Al
Smith and Lewis Pounds and Outerbridge
are attempting to do the same thing here.
and maybe some day New York will
have little tea party OF it's own
lie didn't think John Hancock was so
hiniss in trying TO have "a few pipes
of fine OH Madeira" brought ashore
from his ship the Liberty. and expressed
the opinion that anybody who can get
a single case ashore in these days de-
serves a badge of honor from the COM