The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-11-17
IT UP
At EQUITY
BALL
Lowell Sherman and George
Baxter Settle Dispute
With Fists

NEW YORK, Nov. While
shrieling women fed and men
struggled desperately to part
them. Lowell sherman, polished
Broadway actor, and George Bax-
ter fought ! bloody duel IN the
Astor Hotel yesterday morning.
The weapons used were natures
own fists, but they did some
snappy execution. The scene was
the Equity ball, and the cause
was said to be--a woman.
The fight burst out unexpect-
eddy, when the two men met in
Shermah's box, where his mother
and Nora Bayes sat talking to
Ethel Barrymore, in an adjoining
box.
Nora Bayes Springs.
A few hot words were heard and
then Nora Bayes sprang from the
Sherman box to another. while the
two actors plunged out into the
balcony and went at it fiercely.
It was no fake affair, but a
CORY, earnest battle. What the
two lacked in experience they made
UP in enthusiasm.
When 1t ended Sherman, the
H. ~. =
bleeding wreck, and Baxter also
bore the marks Of battle.
The latter declared that the
quarrel was long standing one,
dating back to the sensational ROs.
coo Arbuclkle- Virginia Rapp case.
He said that as q result Of Sher.
mans passing connection with that
affair he refused to permit the
formers marriage with his sister,
Helen.
The immediate cause Of the out.
break, Baxter asserted, was due 10
slight insult he received from
Sherman. He said that he was in
the box with Sherman's mother
when the actor entered, accom-
panied by Lillian Foster, playing
In Conscience.
Miss Foster was introduced to
some Of those present, but Baxter.
according to his story, was neg
lected.
When he rose gently to point out
the omission, Baxter declared Sher-
man slurred him before the ladies'.
Fight by Rounds.
A quick quarrel flared up and the
fight was on. The fight by rounds:
FIRST ROUND--The pair rushed at
one another and exchanged swings, Bax-
ter connected and Shermans monocle
went rolling across the floor. Baxter
swung again and the immaculate one
caught Il on the point Of the chin. A
he went down with his collar torn. Bax-
ter stepped In, but a beautiful blonde
girl stepped between them ana pushed
Baxter aside. The belle saved Sherman
He arose groggily Baxter's round.
For the next fifteen minutes the
disarrayed Sherman was busy ex-
planning to Equity officials how ID
all happened. He declared that he
simply threw Baxter out Of his
box, that the latter had no right
there. Then the Shermans decided
to leave
Baxter met them at the foot OF
the ballroom stairs. There was
another exchange Of hot words.
and the battle, was resumed.
SECOND ROCND--Ra xter rushed and
sherman met bin with a furnishing
right to the mouth Blood flew ana
they mixed II ranidly at close quarters.
They grn npled. hut Sherman ducked out
Of the clinch and drove his opponent
backward. "A couple OF wnuld-be peace
makers suffered torn tuxed0s and re-.
tired sherman scored again but Bax.
ter clinched him and they rolled to-
ward the stairs leading toward the
mems room Shermafi's round,
In the mems room the fight con-
tirued. while women screamed
v'iHiv at the head ~ the stairs
THtRD RoUND-As they rose Raxier
(Continued ON paxs 9. Column "A