Washington, June 7—a scene of wild disorder occurred today in the House judiciary rooms today when Representative Rankin (D., Miss.) hurled a large, well filled inkwell at Frank J. Hogan, counsel for Frederick A. Fenning at the hearing of impeachment proceedings, hitting him squarely in the forehead. Mr. Hogan countered by hurling at Mr. Rankin a glass filled with water, but missed his mark. Then Mr. Rankin hurled a large law book at Mr. Hogan. Each rushed at the other but they were kept apart by Sergeant-at-Arms Rogers and Capitol police.
Mr. Rankin declared later that Mr. Fenning hit him a solar plexus blow. This Fenning denied.
A free-for-all fight developed among the 200 persons present. Tables and chairs were overturned and it was 20 minutes before order was restored, but there were no visible injuries.
As Mr. Hogan was being shoved to one side of the room to keep him from the raging Mr. Rankin, a one-legged veteran hit him on the head with his crutch. A well-dressed woman of middle age tried vainly to strike Mr. Hogan with her fist.
When the smoke of battle cleared it was found Mr. Hogan was the only casualty. He carried a large lump on his forehead. Some contended it was made by the veteran with his crutch, and by others it was due to a direct hit by Mr. Rankin when he hurled the inkwell.
Mr. Hogan is convinced he was hit by the inkwell, and he expressed regret that he was such a poor marksman as to miss his target when he hurled the water glass.
Before order could be restored all the spectators were forced out of the rooms and stood outside, expressing their indignation.
Chairman Graham (R. Pa.), was in his office when the outbreak occurred. Hearing the commotion he rushed into the room and took charge of the proceedings. He read the riot act to the sub-committee headed by Representative Dyer (R., Mo.), in charge of the impeachment proceedings.
“This is a reversion to barbarism,” said Mr. Graham, “and order must be maintained.”
From page 5 of The Concord Daily Tribune, June 9, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-06-09/ed-1/seq-5/
Editor’s Note: Frederick A. Fenning was a Washington, D.C., official who was being impeached for administrative wrongdoing, and while he was officially investigated in an angry, partisan hearing by the House Judiciary Committee, no final House vote or Senate trial appears to have happened. The impeachment seems to have fizzled out just like many modern political scandals do.
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