The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-04
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
REENTS INSULT
ANDSTRIKES BLOW
Trouble Was Outcome of Failure
Of the Bank of Com
merce of OkmuIgee.
ACTION OF LYONS NOT
SENTIMENT OF PEOPLE
.yOns Declares He Has Utter
Disrespect for the Gov
ernor of Oklahoma.
lny The AssoeIa.sa Presal


OKArULGEE, okla, March 3.--Re-
snting an oath alleged to have been
Gected at him by James c. Lyons, an
q man of OSmulgee, Gov. ]. B. A.
Bbertson OF Oklahoma this morning
agaged in a fstic encounter with
Irons in the court house here.
ne court house was crowded with
laNyers, court officials and spectators.
4 half-dozen or so blows were ex
cianged by the two men before they
we're separated Neither bears any
marks OF the encounter.
The governor had concluded q con-
fersnce with James Hepburn, county
attorney relative to the governor ap-
pearing before the grand jury TO tes-
tify in connection with the failure Of
the Bank OF Commerce of okmulgee,
which the grand jury is investigating
and with which the name of the gov
ernor has been linked. AS the COVER
nor walked from the private office Of
HEPBURN into the outer office, Mr..
Hepburn turned 70 w. III. Crume of
fhia city and asked him to Introduce
the governor to the boys"
The first man Crume met was Lyons
pAHMAIn1 VI bAA6 A~S OA5 < ChA tfCGAAA N1AAA
pany a director OF the Guaranty State
bank when it was merged with the
Bank OF Commerce, and president of
the depositors organization formed
after the failure Of the Bank of Com
nnerce, Nov. 2, last.
Turning, Mr.. Crume said: 81 want
you to meet the governor. Mr.. Lyons"
/. II wouldn't shake hands with the
- said Lyons with an oath, ac-
krding to Crume, and according to
Lyons admission later.
Phe governor then attempted to
gfv1xe at Lyons with his right fist ac-
eordlng TO crume. which both the gov
ernor and Lyons agreed as correct
First accounts stated that Lyons
struck the first blow. State Senator
G. r. Horner, who was standing near
by, intercepted the blow. but in a mo-
ment the state executive and the oil
man were exchanging blows and
struggling to free themselves from the
grasp of spectators, who intervened
Governor Robertson attempted to
remove his overcoat. meanwhile strug
Cling with men who interfered.
Let me GO" he said. II am man"
II will say this, that I can't be
Dluffed physically, legally or any other
way" he added
Il wonder If the people know Lyons
had a deposit of $1s.75 in the bank
and owed the bank $4,000 on a note"
he inquired.
''who started the fight?" County At
torney Hepburn asked
A spectator spoke up and said:
Lyons started IT,"
"Arrest him." Mr. Hepburn ordered
Sheriff Frank Sewers.
When informed that Governor Rob-
ertson was the other principal in the
fight County Attorney Hepburn or
dered his arrest but later told Sheriff
Sewers not to carry out the order. MIR.
Lyons although not in custody, is
technically under arrest.
Mr. Lyons issued this statement: "II
have utter disrespect for Governor
Robertson as governor of the state OF
Oklahoma and supreme contempt for
him az man. The encounter this
morning was the result OF my being
sked 20 shake hands with a man
whom feel toward as stated"
Attorney General q. II. Short, who
is la Oknulgee in connection with the
work OF reorganiEing the Bank OF
Commerce, conferred with the COVER
nor, aud told him Mr.. Lyons action
did not express the sentiment of the
people OF Okmulgee city and county.
Several citizens who were present at
the time voiced approval OF this state
ment.