The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-01
RI0TlNG IN EAST ST. LOUIS.
TWO SEPIRATE SETS OF CITY OFFI-
Gals IN a COLLISION
The snnsuinary Cuimination OF n Political
ouarrei-Mayor Bowmen's Effort 20 Take
statton-Three Police Omcers Killed.

/
Sr. LOUIS, juno 3o.-For some years past
the town OF East St Louis at the eastern end OF
tho great bridge which crosses the Mississippi
river at this point. has been the scene OF intes-
tine disturbances which we're perpetually crop
ping out and making the place Of unsavory
reputation In the eyes OF its bigger but much
more peaceful neighbor on this side OF the
river. In 1867, some OF the citizens OF East St
Louis procured the passage. by the IL
| linois Legislature. OF n bill creating Metro
politan Board Of Police for the town,
and In accordance with that act board
OF Police Commissioners was appointed by the
State. who organized police force Of forty mon
"a number rldiculously large for the town.
which at that time contained only 5000. and at
tho present time not more than 1000 inhabit-
ants The move. which was made in the intcr-
est OF one or two strong financial corporations
having their head offices In the town. never
found favor with the people. and once or twico
they managed since that time TO have the Metro
| politans removed and the city police sub
| stituted. Last December the Metropoltans who
| had been out OF active existence for some
| months. were reorganized. and on the l4th OF
| January last they made very decided move
ment. On that evening. as the Mayor Of the
town, John G.. Bowman. was addressing pub
! lie meeting at the POLICE station upon the sub
| ject OF the towns reorganizing under the general
law. the Metropolitans. who had Just been
brought to life again. cleared the station house
and took possession OF 1t. which they have
held ever since. The next day the election
under the general law was held. and
| the city decided 10y large majority
TO reorganize which was done. part oi the
| process OF reorgan zation was the formation by
| Mayor Bowman OF city police which he ac-
| mmpllsnrd by appointing "A Cty Marshal,
! Michael Walsh. with force Of twenty-one dep
| uties. As soon rs this WIS done the Mayor
made an application 10 the Police Commission
| ers for the station house which they were occu-
| pying. II was refused and he began a suit in
| the name Of the town to recover possession of
| the property. The suit has been in progress
| for some months hut Il was expected that dur
ing the present week the Supreme Court Of
| Illinois would render a final decision in the
case
As might naturally bo expected. the town.
| belng Anicted with two separate sets Of police.
| has bscn the scene OF disturbances for the past
| few years; II Is anything but q reputable To-
| proper are prhceable and law-ahiding enough
but. unfortunately. there is n loating popua-
tion. made up OF tramps and persons who
have had 20 qult ST. Louis. and It was due to
these that the strike OF last summer assumed
such serious aspect in this region. Within
the past month or two the ill-feeling between
the Metropolltnns-who on account of their adj
hcrenco 10 the fortunes Of one Wider. who claims
70 be the rightfu Mayor. are known NJ Wider
lies. and the city police As Bowmaniies-has
been very, marked, Several collisions have
occurred between the factions and Wild
erite was SO severely shot 10y a Bowmanite
spsi9es s995' time M Gso .h%t his Life was de-
was on hand to-day when tho Bowmanitcs
made their final and unsuccessful attempt TO
b sr pss1ssi"n ~ tne station honse which IS
man. who Ia credited even in 81. Louis with be-
p k @ ,unia 81 @ rere etecu,iNe aolly hnd remark-
under under NE tariiness 9i the courts in passing
Known Know ihnt within ''o ,cw "N; ds;ys ""b he bass
been planning a coup ddat by which he
H. insured what he thought was s0a'y yerS '"sS SsS
~ p'n, III nv" eHeruuoh. ms p4h was 10 watrh
Wien th stfn hogs .uId pIpI o =" ia, ,Ii, ni9nrn, r,
a ndynntns In Should The "91 iH1 Havr "a & pnys &
yery SooJ on Gut thcre IL ,, KIN n was Was
"n ~ is man , 9, s1, y, n'%i,uo, % ,n, sw9s
IT, I'M ,a,y ,nuS srcut.u . ~ inute' ,,o,. Ma,
DnWInan st,uiad fr~r, Gts IN ", t1 ,bi t(t
J., hGl H. b1ila,ns; "a Maln s'rrr gpd took view
street nbout eighty ynrds distnnt U,li"vin', |
ah,ut "A stolen horse vvLicb ina Mstr",,'.li,o
had in their possession hut really +" 3nd on,
In a few minnie IN" snv r.,,rnd ,,h ,i
inteiligsnce thnt there were Hmt ia Wv" rh
Mayor decided upon immedate action. and |
collect his whole force and immaLio,sIv ,i, vo
upon and take possession OF the police station
He requested them not TO disturb tho peace
but merely To take po.session Of the RuiiJ
in1, IN tho snma ,wav tbut tha NJ
p9l,ans did iast Jnnuary II IA 80
sibls thet tbe Man miebt hsve yrorLsd poJI pwsI
had NOT the Bowmanitss VIII" 4aI bsen nIied Ms
with iiouor beiorehend Instead 81 Going nnjn,Iv
To WORK stenned on with n chaer w TX sra.scba1
the station hons. and cansed the thraa No.
polltans on duty 10 rally at fhs front door o SEQ
what was the matter ' " ~ ~ ' ~ 'S'
II did nnt ,aEe n n,,ruta for ,he pourar,,os
IN cross the rosd and s,nsar a, th ibreh y,
the Police station THIS Is plain brick struct.
IRE two strriss in bats,ht @a"n @ =, - ~ eb oe ~,
or .tory N door an1" on e,i"a - "a ~ ~, M
ends ionr wind'ws az ear S'o ond az ooti
Ina unner storv I'm, .n unbroL an hr,cS iv,,u y,
he stdes II Ia sitnated in u, ok G ""ri r az
from Main street in front ,o CoIIinsviiIe avanua |
In The rear and rom each s,rsei ia Iaih nianr
wav 10 The a. nt,ine onto ma dnor - N p'AHA
As the Bowfnnni ifss m"ved M ,,bts miami ,roiL
they we're hailed by tha tbree ~,
the door which they held mil onen' wb' ds da'
manded what they wanted. I'VE want posses-
sion Of ihis bniiiinU 'ths Civ Marshal skon,ad
Tie Metr"poitans saw w6a was ma ana on.
Of their nllnner nIos"I tho door an1 il wns X,e %
ontsde T6s Bowmsnts pe bseame Gn ns gyrnI lan
with rage At belng thus check mated and AFTER
ponndinQ the iocksd- ont Metr"noIitsn n~attv
badly. and shooting him in The hand win n
pistol some Of them made a rush Tor the rear
door They were loo inte h"ty.ynr ~ H.. MI