The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-23
PISTOL ASSAULT MADE ION ALTMAN
 BY MASSENGALE Long Standing Trouble Culminates In Meeting
 On First Avenue TWO MEN SEPARATED BY, TRAFFIC OFFICER Massengale Claims Altman Had Threatened And Judge Told
 Him To Arm Himself

An alleged assault with q loaded revolver upon John W. Altman. prom inent Birmingham attorney and presi- dent of the civil service commission, was made by w. l.. Massengale, former business manager of the local painters union at Firss avenue and Nineteenth street about clock Friday after noon.
 Mccoy E officer in charge of traffic atSr ltersection, separated the two L9S ho were locked in a strugglesS he gun, broke the revolveyS ' Massengale's grip, and placed der arrest: , :. ., ..- jail a .e charges which will be giver E ring Saturday morning at nine oc.s Z. These charges are: As sault and battery with weapon, carry ing concealed weapons; and intoxi- cation.
 The dispute between the two men which reached its continuation in the street battle is said to be one of old standing. Both are members of Gen. tral Labor council and it is stated have '.had it out" in the open meetings.
 Dispute In Meeting
 At one of these meetings late in Jsnuary, Altman declares that Massen- gale accused him of attempting to. run the committees" at this time referring to him sarcastically, as "colonel." Alt man says that he told him he resented his verbal attack and requested that he refrain from using such term again.
 At this time. also, charges against Police Officer Patten and McGill were pending before the civil service board instigated by the painters union of which Massengale was prime mover. Words were exchanged on several oc- casions over these officers, it was said. Altman says as result of these dis putes Massengale isidiously attempted to ruin his reputation and integrity as. a lawyer. 1s
 Matters had been at white heat for several days when the pair met Fri day morning on Twenty-first street near the county jail where Massengale was employed on a painting job. Here the attorney questioned him regarding accusation he is alleged to have made to James Lipscomb and others.
 During this discussion Massengale de- clares that Altman told him if he did not retract the statements he would "shoot him." Altman says that what he said to Massengale was that he would ''beat him, z The two parted. X !, ,is s..SS <
 Axms RimssIf With Pistol. z
 According to the story of Massengale he became alarmed at Altman'S threats and went tJ Judge Abernethy with the story of their exchange of words. The jurist, Massengale states, told him to get gun and protect himself, which he immediately did.
 Tn est0ries that both men tell of the altercation at Nineteenth street and First avenue differs little, and Masscn- gale admits that he was the aggressor. ,sa
 Altman says that he had paused on, the curb to wait for the traffic to change when a premonition of danger caused him to turn. He was confronted by Massengale in disheveled condition with his hand clutching revolver.
 "Now." Massengale yelled, If you've got anything to settle with me, come and settle it."
 Before the enraged man could pull the trigger, Altman states that he grabbed his arm with both hands, and pressing down, attempted to dislodge his grip from the gun.
 Three witnesses of this alleged attack were summoned to appear in court Sat urday. They are !: J. W. Brown, Charles Sharbel, 131 Avenue H, and J. c. Fur ner, 916 First avenue, who was said to have been with Massengale at the time.
 Sharble, the 13-year-old newsboy at the corner, gave graphic, but incom- plete description of the fight.
 Il was standing there on the curb selling my papers when this fellow (Altman) steps up beside me. heard a yell and turning round saw this oth- CT fellow (Massengale) comin' up with a gun in his hand. After that l didn't see nuthir'. I was too far away"
 Massengale will be represented in court Saturday by s. R. Hartley and E. M. Thomas, attorneys, who arranged his release on $500 bond two hours after the fight occurred.