The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-10-15
THE RIOT IN wEsrFIELD, MASS
Raid Of the state CObstabIes ON Gambling
House-Onc Man Killed-The Conssabies

Houss-One Man Kiiied-Thc ConsiabIes
Arrested for Msrder.
From tho springfield Mass Republican, Oct. II
One OF the most serious riots that ever occurred IN
lawsbding New England took place westneld stature
day night and resulted in the death Of Of the ct-
we'll planned and .kifay ssscu.sa raid upon noo
gambling den, the raiders being party Of State
eonstAbu.ry, under the direction OF Deputy Samuel
given by the constables As follows
Mr.. Chaplin In company with Charles II Il. Billings,
OF this city, Carlos C. Wellman OF Hoiyoke, and s.
Fagg OF wilbraham, left this city tine party having
two buggiesl about half past nine saturday evening,
rant. issued by Justices Gideon Wells, Of Springfield,
and Porter Underwood. OF Holyoke. commanding him
search the house which was afterwards visited seize
all the gaming implements which would DO found
there and IN, persons engaged In gambling At the
the time. The conslables were in no hurry, and ar
irving Westeld about eleven O'Clock, they saw lights
In the room In the second story OF the old "ParE
House." where they supposed gambling was going on
The building fronts the green beng located on what s
Haswell LOOMS and the proprietor IS Charles Foster
About quarter past eleven the consiables went
we're two doors between The s.airuay and tho room
where the gamblers at play but both we're ~ tns
time open. They passed In a the rst unheard bus De-
fore they could second he gamblers got wind
OF thor near approach and suddenly Slammed the door
IN ,helr iaces The constables hosevsr pushed opee
the door by force aud found themselves in the midst OF
avcrv lively scene. When the constables lrst entered
the rooms as many fifteen sixteen were there, bus
before the officers could make the half Of them.
including Fo.o the proprietor Of The place, escaped by
gong out upon slopng wooden piazza over ths SIDE
walk and jumping thsace /, the groand. Eight how
ever, were secured aud with them three hundred
"cnips, keeper and other implements comprs-
ing the complete Quilt OF faro bank IN full blast.
The eight prisoners evinclng no de nation 70 break
away from Tho officers, table Billings sent to
cali samuel Fowler one OF tho trial justices in Westnod
that he could then take the personal recognzance OF
those whom he know and the bail Of those whom he did
not know. for their appearance, for trial Monday the
cascs career Of day and Two nights in he ocsSp M.
Billings found Mr. Fowler abed aud was nearly half
an hour before he returned with him. Meanwhile the
gamblers Who had escaped arrest had spread the news
OF the raid and by personal exer'ions and by ringing
the fire bell the engine house. had called together
crowd which constantly grew larger and larger, while
the excitement increasea IN corresponding degree.
soon after Mr. Billings left aid before there was any
disturbance John II Brooks, tho man who was sub
seQuenty killed. up stairs into the room
whore the cons,abes and the captured gamblers re-
named and said constable Chaplin that the proprietor
take away his bank" Mr. Chaplin replied that Foster
had cnance 20 get back the ,mpiem nls from the
courts Brooks appeared angry but made no particular
replv As he went down. man who had accompanied
him 10 stranger TO Mr. Chaplin whispered very slyiy
in Mr.. Chapns Better look out for yours'L or
they II take your lfol" few MINUTES alter Brooks
came up again and told Chaplin that ~ Foster. the
TRIAL JUSTICE would be wiling that nc tBrooksI should
take care OF the gaming implements NJ Chaplin re-
piled decidedly that he couldn't permit any such ar
rangemcnt, wnen Brooks seemed very much offended
ana swore roandly al the constables. Tho same man
WHO had warned Mr. Chaplin before was with Brooks
this tme and again told the constable 70 look out Tor
hlmsef rs serious trouble was brewing
Brooks then went down stairs nnd set on the MOD
Brickbats Aying in at the windows uncomforta6y
thick and FAST while tho crowd yelled. Bring them
out |" Hang the damned constaDes ~ and similar ex-
pressons. Il near the tine of tie commencement
OF TINS disturbance that cons abe BILLINGS aud rial
sip through the crowd an W stars into the gam
biers' room without attracting any special attention
Mr. Fowler then told constable CLapin that no doubled
whether he could legally take tie reco2nzac0 OF the
prisoners at thar place. and said hey would have TO 60
to his office Mr. Chaplin showed MIN tho warrant under
which the seizure aud made. and he mad
jnst finished reading It when me gas was suddenly
turnod OF, leaving constabes, prisoners and justice In
darknesA 1t rs but fair tho TO say that a.
they behaved Hike gentlemen, taking no advantage or
the officers and beiriending hem when they were
The turning on OF the gas vas Tho signal for fresh vol
cys Of br ckbas which picsed from Pic conve-
nenliy near and Of which tbroSn with such
force as 70 go smashing through wooden paruuon.
wnile others demolished lath and paserins aud made
hit severely bruised. Mr. Lom's the owner OF the
ding put bis head out Of the window 10 enreat tho
mob 10 spare his property bu MS speech dd NJ good
Tue crowd was excited 10 hear any b0dvs ex
postuiatons Mr. Chaplin urged the taI Justice 20 60
down and proclaim the riot ac bat ar Fowler replied
that a man who would say anything 10 that crowd
would be TO get his head Knocked or Some.
thing must be done, and as the bonlbardment OF
s ksas was Inn. J. eky T:kns
advantage OF furry. during which ost of tho crowd
tnow augmented 70 nearly hyo hundred men and boysl
uad gone into tic oi the budin s--as "
ported hat The officers leaving by the back stairs
the consabies aud their prisoners down the front
man, who apparently on the wscn, shouted 'Here
they aren The crowd the WORT IL Instant, and
commenced prand rush thr5aeh alley Tor the front
OF the Duildag. from Ibis time tue tnro"ing OF bricks
was CONTINUOUS, and Dir Caapin ~ho Aas iroai, was
struck the iace and several times in other parts or
thu body. Mr Chaplin, thneIng that he wss
osershemed, retreated temporary :, place Two
doors souh ard was going up an entde stairway, when
stopped him with fhe enr atty, For Gods snks
doa in here; this Is a boardn, house" In
quicker tune ,na taxes 10 read aD at IT, tie crowd
we're IN front Of hr buillng agan. shouting, and
Rat DF w h. f--l n a
bsln A. they rushed IN rnass towards him. Consia-
bio Chaplin shouted to then order you 10 dsper-e, IN
drawing hrs pistol h ; had no effect upon the crowd
who ciosed around um. pisoi shots began 10 DO
ara tacm. IT, cln5 aacs ihan told their pri
soners that they might tase caro- 81 them elves as wAs
evident that 'hey could not hold them longer
Believing that his liic Was N rei snd that no would
be killed n he delayed nome longer, Mr. Cnapia
fred. lie directed las first sho1 NJ man who was then
preparing to nu1 q bncsblt at MN and subsequently,
fired three shots Ia cscn case Ill men who md an
arm raised 10 throw brick He dia not know whether
the shots hit any enc, but aware that they hal
sanitary eIecr. Tho I'd IL getting dap
gcrous for them well the able, and ceased 10
advance and quoted down suddenly. During this
temporary ni tn constsbrs we're nDe 10 get together
again, and bv the assis anre OF OF M men wnom
they had arrested escaped by roundsbout way into
Canal street On hss stree man hred deliberately az
Mr. Cnapin, not did NOT hil hin fns cans'ab'es en-
further oenc but found ila their horses
had be spirited ana hey accordingly started on
foot aud walked ten miles TO tn city.
Meantime lDe crowd we're sware though the consts-
bes not, tat.one o. the Sous bred BIZ Cor stable
Chaplin or some ono IN The crowd tno other constable
fred any, had taken effect in the thigh OF John H.
Brooks. The main severed and Brooks bl.d
TO death In a short time. Tue result very naturally
made the excitement sii more Intense, and Brooks
brother Immediately swore out warrant be ore Justice
Fowler against all four oil tue chpstsbrs for murrr
The placed In the hands OF Deputy sheriff
L. D. Walsev who drove TO this CITY aud arrested Mr.
Cnspn Of Haynes Hple his boarding place just alter
his arrival there. about tour O'Clock sunday morning
Mr.. Chapin assisted Dr.. Waklev IN finding CoDstabcs
Billings and Wclman, and tue three committed to
tho sheriff BUSH at the jail Constable tIagg
could not be found, though II not because he hat
taken any pains to himself He informed
yesterday al crnooD, nj his residence Ia Wbahs THAI
he Was wanted and c2mo In night and delivered
hi psel up.
j I'm H. Brooks. the victim OF the rot, born in
England, and was ABOUT io.ty.nve years OF age no
leaves a vile and child Brooks cnracter has for
long time been bad Tie convicscd several years
ago OF roDblng bank IN the eastern part Of tho STATE,
and sentenced Ave years the state Prison. though
he pardoned before serving his iu term ana 10
claimed there never OH than circumstantaI evil
dence against MIN, at that He mas lived IA