New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-10-24
THE HAGERSTOWN RIOT.
HOW 1T COMMEMORATIVE WERE THE INsTIGAToRs-
NAMES or TIKI RILLRD--oRDER FULLY RESTORED
From Our Special Correspondent

4
NAMES or TIKI KILLRD--oRDER FULLY RESTORED
| From Our Special Correspondent
| HAGERsIOwN Nd, Oct. %, 1866.
The elcgraphc dispatches which have appeared In the
daily papers purportng TO give an account OF the not
which occurred here the 10Th ns are 80 meagre and
inaccurate that propose TO give you full statement OF
the unfortunate affair and Of the which led to it.
For this purpose must go back TO our charter election
last Spring for that day the troubles began which eu
minated last saturday IN a most dsgraceiu! not
At the election, the question was raised whether
a citizen who not registered. as provided Tor
| by tho Acts of Assembly could vote at municipal
election IL held by tho judges Of the election, tha
the Registry Law did not apply TO charter elections ana
the ,rnrcgrstcrcd numbering almost majority oil inc
citizens the town allowed 20 vote. llhs decision
was wrong as has since been ruled by the Attorney
Gencral The candidate Of the Rebel party for Mayor
W lillian Bioishing. who had been regarded as
Union, during The war; but OF strong Deuocrat. pf"c
| tics.
naturally became partisan Of President Johnson, when
that distinguished gentleman leit the Union panty M
Bicrshipg VAS supported by fow good Union men, ind
was elected by handsome majority. The Rebels imnic-
datcy claimed him as their man, and President johnson
pointed To this election IN connection with the Peoria
charter election IS an evidence OF The returning Sense o
ZION the election Of Mayor Bicrsng the rebels iu-
medatcy set 60 work 20 reconstruct the Corpofaii0h
| Government 10 sult their own notions. Ia tne hfsl
place they demanded police, of their own per
suason who would insure them freedom o. action ana oil
spcech The entire BouId of Councilmcn were Union.
and they refused 10 IN the appointment OF we o-
lice officers nominated by the Mayor and also refused To
make appropriation Tor the payment OF any OF BIS a
Tho Mayor thcr.upon appointed six policemen, on bis
own responsibility The money for their payment was
advanced by wealthy Rebel citizens trusting .hat a. tno
next charter election they would get coniio u ihc No"h
ell and make an appropriation 90 rrimbur-r Themselves
krow OF no instance In which these police officers have
ever arrested full own white citizen They occasion
ally pick up some luckcss negro that has irocd horse
through tho streets sc speed exceeding That aiiVN'h
toe civ ordinances or peThaps some iedomni boy nnD
has anoccntly tied his h0rsc 20 an r., aflin-t tn'
statute IN such case mad, and pgovldsd but with nh
I gown men thcy DO not crrc 90 inrdtir
There is pretty general conrciion IN the oommnaiif
that these men 4a' officers OF The 1w, aHd Li Wnrn
they Law hands any individual they arr committing az
assault aud HALLE 20 whatever Kind - thrashihs Tie
assrie,ed party may DC able 20 ain.ri,irf
ON last SATURDAY the frud bcN TIC Boys ard The
spe~oi r1cc came 20 crisis on Tho occasion 81 thc Eiea
rnion sass Meeting. IN imn'ns' cf0Fi' estimate" ~
from 10 90 70 1900 Tson, in town. The al 80
IN ausPlcousy drLns ~ icuD1h ,lei' NcIc ~ -
men 10 be scn except the police and then pifsths ~
kept 10 some disturbance ~ coniirun crci- ifJohnsoh
Nobody paid any attention 10 them, I'll IN the Afternoon
aboat q clock "a glicrcltion occurred al StAhoP
Hotel between Charlie Gall Robert sands, special pniic
men, aad dOzsu Il their ad' ard aD't "fs ay
few Union men. Tic Mayor himself Was plcsc4i Win
revolver In his pocket, which Boz drcW Oh citizen ~
showed some disposition 20 throw s'orS ~ NM IN
contest began by u'.l elep!s i'f J--N''A "a" i''1"
Thomas" .i
EFrom this the oppous parties proceeded 20 threats ad
cha-ngc 20 hghi. Thc parties hal by this ume Klt ~.
Jonaihanst where large crowd h0on began 70 'oit,
Gall and Sands each drew their rrvovcrs aud emphr-
/ them into the crowd, apparently n random
bysardcr named Joseph Rcnner, was struck "a ~
side IN. ball psueirat ing hs liver lie carried lat
/ the Couri.llOuse. The special policemen 80 thc
friends who numbered hfteen or twenty, ~ bitk u
ward Ch1Icai lsIs a. lac. igTSa ihe e nO,,,
armed at least shots Tired Of the policemen
! tai they had crossed Frinkiin-st.
At hi. iunctu,c some young men RAINING b. th,
sens ~. nusxcis and lively fir opened on boil
sides The special police party now rerr1ed 70 hous
on the Of Jonathan aud ChLrch.si kept by no
torious gambler and blaosles, named james rum rh'
formerly belonged 20 thc special police himself Ihi'
house has been for long time the headquarters Of al ~,
dcsperedocs in the town, aud was the i"you'e haunt o.
the special police go - -
been collected and kept ready loaded for any cnor
gcncy johnson pole had beea erected IN front Of The
house. aud threats having been made tina, It wolld
be cut down. the armament had been increased There
were not less than ten loaded muskcis ~ the house.
The police opened up destructive fire from the doors
ard windows, w0unding many OF tho assnilanis. The
muskeis were loaded with buckso which accounts for
the large number wounded aud the few fatal shots Chas
Gall the leader Of the party, was irng from second
story window when he struck IN the head by rhc
bal and fell hcadl0ng TO the pavement lie was instantly
/ killed.
completely Quilted" One 81 the special police named
Robert sands was dragged from the house cruelty beaten
and then stabbed IL feared that the wound will prove
fatal Several more Of tho police party captured and
beaten few escaped by Jumping out Of the window.
Not window door left IN the house. The furni-
turc stock OF liquors, AID gambling implements were
| h''N't"ANN''
| ended the riot.
Tho Sheriff swore in deputies to preserve the
peace but there has been need Of their services
In this fearful riot only person was killed outright
and two seriously and most probably mtay wound
ed About 20 persons wounded more or less severe
w. including one lady shot through the arm This, Of
course does not include the large number struck with
stones and bcaten with clubs.
Charles GALL the deceased policeman, was young man
about rs years age He belonged to the lower class OF
society was exceedingly illteraie, and wthal great
rowdv He was a man OF great activity and muscular
power and in tho contest in which he lost his life showed
considerable courage. Al the beginning OF tho war, he
was looked upon ns n Rebel but when bounties became
tempting and drafts imminent, he enlisted In tho
| Union Army His career soldier was not brilliant
Since tho election of Mayor Biershing, Gall has boon
his speca police force and was the most turbulent and
| dangerous man In the party.
Robert Sands supposed 10 be MORALLY wounded is
Irishman by birth, soldier in the LIST Maryland
Cavalry He was always regarded MS an honest and indus
rous man up 10 the that he accepted position in
the Special Police Corps He was good soldier, full OF
fight and apt TO be qunrrelsomo when intoxicated He
has an intelligent and respectable wife aud an interesting
family There is much sympathy for his family in tho
community.
Joseph Rcnnor, supposed to be MORALLY wounded, is
quiet inofensyo man, in humble circumstances. lie has
for some years been janitor Of the Courthouse He
taking no part in the riot, but standing the
police when they fired, and was struck by one Of the
| ur.t ahota