Street Brawl Between Attorneys in Tacoma
A heated dispute over a guardianship case devolved into a brutal physical fight on a Tacoma sidewalk.
The story, cleaned up
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Deputy United States Attorney F. C. Robertson met his former law partner, F. B. Gattel, on the street and demanded he retract a statement claiming members of the De Lion family were trying to commit him to an insane asylum for his property. When Gattel refused, Robertson resorted to violence, punching him in the face. The altercation resulted in a broken nose and various injuries for Gattel, and a broken finger for Robertson. Gattel later charged Robertson with assault and battery.
“His gattling gun style of driving his fists into Mr. Gattel's face had apparently broken the latter's nose.”
While physical violence between legal professionals is rare today, this incident highlights the high-stakes, deeply personal nature of probate and guardianship disputes, which continue to be flashpoints for family conflict.
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