The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-16
THE WESTHELD, MASS, RIOT.


One of the most serious riots that ever occurred
IN laW-abiding New England took place in West.
field on Saturday night, and resulted in the
death Oh one OF the citizens of the town. The
cause OF the disturbance was well planned and
skiltully executed raid upon notorious gam
bling den, the raiders being party of State con-
staOulary under the direction of Deputy Samuel
Chaplin, of this city, who claims that the killing
was plainly an act of selEdefense on his part.
The constables, arriving at West6eld about II
O'clock, saw lights in the room in the second
posed gambling was going on. About ll'l5 the
constables, unheralded and unexpected, went
quietly up the front stairs into the building.
There were two doors between the stairway aud
the room where the gamblers were at play but
both were at this time open. They passed in at
the first unheard, but before they could reach
the second the gamblers got wind of their near
approach, and suddenly slammed the inside door
in their faces. The constables, however, pushed
open the door by force, and found themselves
in the midst of very lively scene.
When the constables first entered the rooms
rs many as fifteen or sixteen were there, but
before the officers could make the arrests half
of them, including Foster, the proprietor of the
place, escaped by going out upon a sloping
wooden piazza, and Jumping thus to the ground.
Eight, however, were secured, and with them
some three hundred "chips," cue-keeper, and
other implements, comprising the complete out
fit OF faro bank in full blast.
Meantime the gamblers who has escaped
spread the news OF the raid, and by personal
exertions and by ringing the fre-bell on the en-
gine house near By, called together a Gro Wd,
which constantly grew larger and larger while
the excitement increased in a corresponding de-
gree. Before there was any disturbance John
u; Brooks, the man who was subsequent ltly
killed, came up stairs into the room and said to
Constable Chaplin that the proprietor of the
place was poor man, and that he ought not to
take take away his bank" Mr.; Chapln replied that
Foster had chance to get back the implements
from the Courts. Brooks appeared angry but
made no particular reply.
As he went down, a man who had accompa-
MED him "a stranger to Mr.. Chapin) whispered
very slyly in Mr.. Chapin's ear, Better look out
for yourself or they'll take your lifep few
minutes later Brooks came up. again and told
Chaplin that Mr.. Foster, the trial Justice would
be willing that he (Brooks) should take care of
the gaming implements. Mr. Chaplin replied
oTc0eeIS Enat me me oPuIdnt permit any such
offended and sWore roundly at the conrtables.
The same man who had warned Mr.. Chaplin be-
fore was with Brooks this time, and again told
the constable to look out for himself as serious
trouble was brewing.
Brooks then went down stairs and set on the
mob. Brickbats came flying in at the windows
uncomfortably thick and fast, while the Gro gd
yelled, Bring them out!" "Hang the consta-
blesW and the gas was suddenly turned off,
leaving ConstaSles, prisoners, and Justice in
darkness.
The turning off of the gas was the signal for
fresh volleys of brickbats, some of which were
thrown with such force as to go smashing
through a wooden partition. Several of the
men inside were hit and severely bruised.
Taking advantage OF furry, during which
most of the crowd (now augmented TO nearly
five hundred men and boys) had gone into the
rear of the building, as it was reported that the
officers were leaving by the back stairs, the
front entrance; but had no sooner opened the
door than man who was apparently on the
watch shouted "Here they are.n The crowd
got the word in an instant, and commenced a
grand rush through an alley for the front of
the building. From this time the throwing of
bricks was continuous and Mr.. Chaplin, who
was in front, was struck in the face and several
times IN other parts of the body.
Mr.. Chaplin, thinking that he was over
nNaI rnFilu rNlQ
doors SOUTH and was going up an outside stair
way, when a man stopped him with the en-
treaty, "For Gods sake, don't come in here;
this is a boarding house." In quicker time than
it takes to read about it, the crowd were in
front OF the building again, shouting, amid
I Babel of yells As they rushed in mass to-
wards him, Constable Chapin shouted to them,
az order you TO disperse, in the name OF Ghe
Commonwealth y at the same time drawing his
pistol. This had no effect upon the crowd, Wno
closed in around him. while pistol shots began TO
be heard among them. The consta0le5 then told
their prisoners that they might take care OF
themselves, as it was evident that they could
not hold them longer
Believing that his life was in peril, Mr.. Chaplin
fred. He directed his first shot at man who
was then preparing TO hurl brlckoat AT MIN,
and subsequently fired three more sbots, IN eacn
case at men who had an arm raised to throw q
brick, He did not know whether he shot any
one but was aware that they had salutary
effect. The crowd saw that it was getting dan,
gerous for them as we'll as the constable, ana
cea, ed to advance, and quieted down very sud
denly During this porary lull, the consta
bles were able TO get together again. and, hy
the assistance OF one of the men whom they had
arrested escaped by roundabout way into
Canal street On this street man fired deibe-
rately at Mr. Chaplin, but did not hit him. The
constables encountered no further violence, but
found their horses were spirited away, and they
accordingly started on foot aud walked ten miles
to this city. .,..,. ~.
constables were not-that one OF the shots hreo
by Constable ChaPn or some one IN li tne Grove @
! mo other constable fred any, had taken enecl
in the thigh of John III. Brooks. The mar
artery was severed, and Brooks bled TO death Il
short time. Tne result very naturally mad'
the excitement still more intense, aud BROOKS
brother Immediately swore outa warrant before
Jusiice Fowler against all four OF the constables
for murder The warrant was placed IN TN
hands of Deputy Sheriff l.. b. Walkey, Wh'
drove to this city and arrested Mr.. Chaplin ao)u
Goclock on sunday morning. Mr. Chapin as
sisted Mr.. Walkley in finding COnstables Billing
and Wellman and tue three we're committed Z
the care of Sheriff Bush at the Jail. Constaol
Flagg was informed yesterday afternoon at A.
residence in Wilbraham, that he was wanted
and came in last night and delivered himself uL
Jobu H. Brooke, the victim OF the riot wa
horn in England, and was about forty-hVe year
old He leaves wife and one child bfooK
character has for long time been oad.
was convicted several years ago OF roOOlhg
bank in the eastern part OF the SSAte, @nu n @ sei
tepced to five years in the state Frlsoa, thous ,s
he was pardoned before serving MS luI VSIi ~
az II was claimed there never was other ina
circunstantial evidence against him, ana poe
Of that He has lived in West6eld for the pa
NH s LoapintT gambling house part