Atlanta Georgian

ATTORNEYS PASS
LIE AND BLOWS
IN MACON

Solicitor General Ross and Lawyer Harris Clash Over Trial of Vice Cases.

MACON, July 12—Attorney Jesse C. Harris brought about a sudden adjournment of the special criminal session of the Bibb Superior Court yesterday afternoon by calling Solicitor John I. Ross a liar and striking him in the face in the court room.

Harris was fined $50 for contempt of court and also censured by Judge Mathews for his conduct.

Harris represented fifteen women of the restricted district who are charged with operating disorderly houses. In moving for a continuance of these cases, he declared that Solicitor Ross would not call the cases represented by any other lawyers, but was seeking solely to prosecute those represented by him (Harris).

"That's a falsehood, your honor," interposed the Solicitor.

"You're a liar," shouted Attorney Harris, striking the Solicitor in the face.

Deputies seized both men immediately.

"He's a dirty little scoundrel; let me hit him once," shouted Solicitor Ross, but was restrained.

Judge Mathews held that the jury was prejudiced in the matter of trying any of the defendants represented by Harris, and as Solicitor Ross refused to call any other cases, though stating that he was prepared for trial in all of them, the court was adjourned for the term and all parties discharged.

The Solicitor stated that Harris represented all of the prominent defendants, and that he did not propose to try the lesser and weaker defendants first. "There are 'stars' of varying magnitude in Tybee (the vice district) as well as in glory," he said.