Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-08-12
THE MAYOR AND ALDERMEN
pR ESENT,
The Doors Of the Upper Story Of the
First National Bank Broken Open
in the Night by Leading
Citizens Of Austin!
TIE CROWD ARMED WITH
ERICKBATS AND CL UBS!

tuesday night last was tho scene OF
one Of the most disgraccful riots in Aus
tin, that ever occurred in = civilized
community. The facts and particulars
as We gather them arc these
1t seems that controversy has been
going on for some time between the
Common Council, and Messrs. Page l.
Wheeler, with reference to q crossing
leading from the street to stable own
cd and occupied by the latter gentlemen.
The Council ordered side walk built
on this street, though it is claimed by
lawyers that the charter gives them no
authority for doing this But waving
all tcchnicalitics when the order was
made, Page 4 Wheeler procured lum-
Der and built walk in front Of their
lots and also constructed good cross.
iny to the entrance to their stable -
This crossing and walk the council
hired a man to tear up, aud built one
which ctectually shut off all passage to
and from the stable. This was remov-
cd BY the owners Of the lot in order to
get GU. their team, and was again re-
built by the council. Page l. Wheeler
then commenced civil action to recov.
or damages for the injuries, which ac-
ton is now pending. The council
would neither build crossing them
selves, nor allow the one to remain that
was built. This state Of things contin-
ned unit! Tuesday afternoon when Mr..
Page having occasion to use his team
removed the crossing over which he
could not drive with buggy and went
out
On returning home in the evening,
he was informed by the Sheriff that a
warrant had been issued for his arrest.
Being busy at the time he invited the
Sheriff to step up into his office and he
would give the matter his attention.
TN examination Of the warrant he dis
covered that it was issued by justice
Of peace, who had previously resigned
his office, fact we'll known to the
Sheriff, and the warrant was in other
respects so illegal as that it would not
protect the officer. These points Mr.
Page and Mr.. Wheeler both pointed out
and explained to the Sheriff. and also
called his attention to the fact that ar
arrest Of that character could not be
made in the night, by express provisions
of statute unless ordered by the mag
istratc. Under this state of facts thu
officer had no more power vested il
him than any other citizen. He insist
e.! at first on making the arrest, bu
finally concluded to drop the matte
until morning. In the mean time, an<
evidently by preconcerted arrange
ment a large crowd gathered around tn
building. Why this gathering no one cal
tel, except thstit was gotten up for tn
express purpose Of ariot. Hearing tn
.so;,c below, Mr.. Wheeler locked boz:
doors of his office and going to wiudo'
iuf,ymcd the Mayor who was first an
G.rlu.ost in the wd,-that there va
., difficulty inside and that he woul
H',tu the doors as soon as the crowd dIs
,cr,cA ALSO that the matter Was arrange
VIII, the Sheriff and he would not max
III arrest until morning. But the
::yl eviieu,(y coaie there for s purpos
-. were not to be satisfied. Just the
nuy .,.l.neus citizen Wh4Se name We W I'll
-. ! for reasons, smashed in a wlndo
IA, a>,>ca tie Sheriff If lie wanted lel
i.>>uri bv the noise he answered y
i4."oIi&ttly ~ AK was procured al
18th doors to the office were haster'
.,,wn and in rushed tie Mayor anu /
rxt;tc&. crowd to find everyth;n: ieat
a',,o and quite. At the iust;sasion
rv::u!nrccmcu;s the Sheriff ana his ,lr
NY then proceeded to aevare his wet;
ua.('r protest, and drag hiM at
~. h,ur Of the nigh. before : self GO
Instituted justice. Every incident
!, ms,;yi"uS transaction eousQ:re>
y, i; emo If the Ettat outrageous a
:" hing tina, cvor diSsraesI 4 ess;l's
'AAmi'y. First the spite and M
r' u.snii,>,'l Ivy the leaders in I
"tmrut, the trivolnuSuc,>s &c H."
,nrr the cover Ct darkness AN
~ the arrest was gotten W, IL. u