White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1923-08-12
CAUSES FIGHT;
BRANSON FIGHTS TWO
Continued from Page One.)

first blow was guarded off and Bran
son caught him with a right swing
that sent Pittman staggering almost
to his knees. Then Lockhart got
busy, grabbing Branson repeatedly,
preventing a second blow to send the
assailant to the ground and taking
care to give Pittman q free hand. 1t
was not much of a fight, except for
being three-cornered, lasting less
than a minute, but each man landed
a couple of blows and had several
more guarded off. Finally as they
clinched Lockhart tripped Branson
from behind and he fell, with Pitt
man on top. Lockhart butted in
again, trying to assist Pittman, but
the latter told him to keep away as
he would not strike Branson when
he was down. Using that as a ruse
to make his getaway Pittman ros
and Branson went after him as he
started to run. Lockhart ran be-
tween them, facing and struggling
with Branson, carefully leaving Pitt
man alone all the while.
Nov you boys stop this said
Lockhart as he caught Branson's
arms. e
go talk to the man who started
it," said Branson.
1T don't make any difference who
: started it," said Lockhart.
By this interference Pittmaa was
enabled to make his escape back to
Mr.. Quayle's office, which he did hur-
riedly.
District Attorney Edwards issued
a warrant at Branson's request and
Pittman hat afternoon was hailed
before Justice Mcdonald. Instead OF
pleading guilty like a man and pay
ing his fine Pittman, under Lock
harris influence, went to trial. In
addition to the facts given Branson
said he had been informed by two
friends whom he could name that
Pittman carried a gun for him and
that he saw the shape of a gun in his
hip pocket during the fight.
Lockhart proved an evasive and re-
calcitrant witness, showing great bias
for ,Pittman. He asked that the
| OUltu anu t1llluICH Ut eNCuSGu lIOIl
the court room while he repeated
some obscene words, not an epithet,
which he said Branson uttered. He
said Branson was pointing his index
finger at Pittman when he spoke, but
the witness could not remember any
thing whatever hat Pittman said,
especially what provoked the words.
Branson said he would admit using
the words, merely uttered in defiance,
and as cross-examiner forced Lock-
hart to admit that Pittman had said
something but he could not remem-
Der what. In like n it took
much questioning to get him 70 tell
the truth about his having said "It
don't make any difference who start
ed it," but he did admit that he
might have said it, that Pittmar
struck the first blow and that he
never attempted to interfere EXCEPT
with Branson.
Pittman OF the stand denied car
rying a gun except when he went in
the hills. He volunteered the infor-
nation that otherwise Branson's ac-
count was correct.
Il didn't knock him down and
didn't throw him." said Pittman
He fell down himself"
He tried to have it appear that |
when he said Flight like a man. he
meant in the newspapers. He denied
that Branson backed off.
Recalled to the stand Branson said
Pittman was not referring to a news
paper fight but to the fact hat he
was backing off to avoid a fight. He
said he had not spoken to Pittman
since November, 1920, at which time
Pittman had attacked him with a
pair of scissors in the Times office.
The court told the witness to omit
reference to the scissors assault, as
it was a different one. Pittman asked
10 reply to it but the court told him
it had not been allowed in evidence,
hence no reply could be made.
Judge Mcdonald told Pittman he
was proved to be the aggressor and
found him guilty. He was fined $50.
From this c~onfoncn bo hoe ,1nooIad