The New York herald., 1922-03-31
New Version of Duel With
I. M. Criley. One Time
Friend and Artist.
STAGE WOoING is CAUSE
His Adversary Too Realistic
Where Author Wife
Was Heroine.

Special Dispatch 70 THE New YORK HERALD.
SAN FRANCISCO. March 30.--Carmel,
home of writer's and artists and of .
lot of ordinary folk. who, however,
take a personal and intimate interest
in the Bohemian colony" as they call
it, is town divided against itself be-
cause of the f1stic duel Of last Satur-
day between Harry Leon Wilson. an
thor, 50 years old. and Theodore NJ
Criley, artist. 40 years old
The population OF the colony seems
evenly divided between "wilsonites''
and "Crileyites." 1t has gone so far
since the writer and the artist got to-
gether to settle their differences with
fists that many Carmel residents d.
not speak to each other.
A. Carmel play more than six months
ago started all the trouble between Will
son and Criley. Wilson wrote the play
-"Pomander Walk Il was named-and
Mrs Wilson took the part OF the hero
inc. Criley was the hero. Wilson and
criley were friends then. After the per-
formance they ceased to be.
According to the best informed In
Carmel-who are not afraid to talk for
not mentioned-Wilson thought that
Criley's stage lovemaking was too real
istic. There was argument apd counter
argument Friendship ceased. Threats
OF bodily harm were indulged in and the
whole thing came TO a climax beside the
Pacific Ocean in the early dawn when.
by agreement. the two men me. and
went at II according to their ideas OF
Queensberry rules. Wilson is heavier
than Criley. but the difference in weight
was more than made up by the differ
ence in years. Both men are said TO be
In The pink OF condition for their ages.
From the most authentic sources IL Is
learned the fight was more or less of a
draw. In the early morn on an ocean
cliff outside of Carmel there are not
many. people. The fight had not been
advertised. The two man who wit
messed il. somewhat as seconds wit
ness regular duel. are not talk
ing about the battle part of 1t. But
both contestants were somewhat bruised
and a draw would have been declared
had the bout been pulled off In public.
The principal trouble seems to be. ac-
cording to Carmel folks. not a fist fight
between an artist and a writer but the
fact that the fight hasn't settled any
thing. The men appear TO be still bitte-
enemies. Living not far from each
other and about six miles outside OF
Carmel Criley Il Is stated. is afraid
Wilson is going to carry the wa riah;
into his camp. Wilsonites at Carmel sny
this Is all nonsense and that Wilson
would not take advantage OF any one.
BHt they also say the fight has not
ended the feud
Criey also is married lie Is retired
business man OF some wealth and con
sidered n most accomplished artist. Mrs.
'Criley Is Ill because OF the matter Car.
mel folks say
Months ago IL is said. Wilson made re-
marks to Crilev in public that showed
everybody in the colony the bal blood
between the two mon. On March *.
the day before the pugllstic encounter,
Wilson wrote letter TO Criley challeng-
ing him to the fist fight.
SAN FRANCISCO. March SO.--when
Harry Leon Wilson and Theodore Criley
met last Saturday. according to story
published here to-day. weapons were
fists encased In riding gloves
challenge was issued. the story runs.
Wilson suggested seconds. but Criey
declined TO bring friends into ii. Wilson
suggested soft riding gloves and Criley
accepted. n was said Mrs Criey
exacted promise he would not strike
the FIRST blow. He appeared alone and
spoke nc word until the end OF the duel
Wilson paced off q space the size OF a
ring. old English rules were approved.
providing a knockdown constituted a
round and FOR intervals or three min
utes between rounds.
Wilson stripped 10 undersarments and
waited while Criley removed gls sses and
coat. Wilson landed tho first blow.
Criley's promise to his wife was no
longer binding There was little SPAR
ring The men stood chest 10 chest and
traded blow for blow
prNEutfnGT In AnrfI cali