The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1877-01-04
RIOT
A Disturbance at Laing's Hall on Mon
day Night,
Which May Result in the Death Of
Officer GrseIish.

On Monday night the members of the
Ladies' Bsnevolen, Society held festi-
val At Laipg's Hall, which, for = time.
was quiet and orderly, but toward II o'clock
some Of the male visitors, becoming some
what under the influence of liquor, got
up . quarrel, which much disturb
ed the proceedines. The controversy
seemed, from what could be learned BY .
reporter, shortly after the occurrence Of the
disgraceful scene, which followed, to have
begun between . man from the Fort named
Ben. Thompson and . barber named
Charles Henry, who works at-the Planter
House. While they were wransling. some
enc left the hall in search of . policeman, in
order to preserve quiet. As it was
about II O'Clock, and rolI-cail, Officer
Grover was the first policeman found,
leaving the Office, and he be-
coming apprised Of the disturbance, al.
though il was not on his beat, went 1t
once, after getting Officers Cunningham and
Greelish to accompany him, to the hall.
Feeling perfectly safe, they walked in, and
Officer Grover having been previously ad-
vised as to the principal offender, walked
up to Ben Thompson, whom he At once dis
covered TO be man Tor whon he held Q
warrant of some weeks standing, and at
tempted to take him into custody. The
disturbance referred u, however, having been
quieled before their arrival, W. 3 Town
send, who, accompanied by Rev. 7. w.
Henderson, was sitting close to him, Jump
ed up and interfered by saying that every
thing was quiet and no arrest was neces-
cary. Grover knew his warrant OF preyi-
Gus date, meant to take his man, and he,
after pushing Townsend aside, en-.
deavored to take charge of Thompson The
latter finding himself backed BY large
number of his friends, resistei the Law, and
stated that, a. he had not done anything,
he would not 60 anywhere, with anybody |
unless ne wanted to. Grover nade another |
attempt to take him but was rspulsed. He |
then struck Thompson over the head with |
his "biily, breaking the latter 70 atoms His |
comrades, Cunningham and Grsslish, were |
close behind him TO render assistance,
but the simultaneous rising Of the whole
number of the men in the end of the house
near the con,batants, rendered their pres
cnce powerless. In less time than it takes
to relate 1t, the entire male portion Of the
audience was a surgIng macs, and the air
WAS made thick with chairs flying toward
the officers. The hit beginning at the
stage, In the south end of the hall was con-
tinued, against the three policemen, who
fought their way inch by inch the full
length Of the room to the stairway, at the
north end of the building, making more ef-
forts to defend themselves from death than
anything else. X aching the stairway and
already covered with wounds, the officers
endeayored TO make a stand. Here officer
Greelish who had, by mistake, got on the
outside of the balustrade, and Was attempt
ing to get back to the top of the landing,
was met by chair which being driven
with hercule n strength felled him at once
TO the floor, where he lay q bleeding
mass, being already weak from
the loss of blood. Grover and Cum
were cut otffrom him in such q
manner IA 10 be unable 10 render him any
assistance and, were in fact, hard pushed
to protect their own lives. They were
forced down the stars by the surging
crowd, and fully one-third OF the large
heavy chains in the hall were hurled after
them, forming perfect barricade for the
time at the foot Of the staircase.
Capt. Greelish was picked up insensible,
and taken down into the street after the
fight was over and found to Be most dam
yerously injured. He was placed In hack
and taken 10 his home on broadway near
kickspoo street, where he now lies in a
critical condition, having received such in
iuries about the head and breast, as to
cause some doubt as 20 his ultimate recov-
ery. Officer Grover received several severe
about the head and body, which
will place him for few days on
the weak list. Officer Cunningham
ices rot bear any external marks
Of consequence. bu; is badly bruis-
ed about the body. Several of the op-
posing party were wounded. After the
not, for it was nothing else, Ben Thomp-
ION and Townsend were arrested The lat
er was, during police court, released on a
bond OF SO while Thomp,on was held in
bonds Of 500 Tor the arssuIt on Gre+lish,
md $40 for dis urbing the peace Both
will have q hearing this morning. They
have both been before the police before. I