The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-07-01
Two Policemen Killed at Easts
Louis.

1
81. LOUIS, June 3o.-The state OF
chronic disturbance which has prevailed
in East St. Louis for months past, cul.
minated this afternoon In 6ght between
part Of the metropolitan police force
and the City MArshAls organized by Nay
or Bowman.
II appears that last January the met.
ropolitans, under Chief Renshaw, took
iorcible possession Of one Of the city en-.
gine houses and the prison cells
which had been used as police
headquarters, and although Mayor Bow
man has repeatedly demanded that Il be
vacated BY them and returned TO the
city, his demands have been refused.
About noon to-day City Marshal Walsh,
learned that there were but three Of the
metropolitan force in the engine house,
and thinking II would be easy
10 capture il, mustered his deputies II
his own headquarters, q little more
than block away, and made q dash for
it. he was quickly seen. however, and
the occupants Of the engine house, OF.
GERS Wallace and Gleyre and Turnkey
Chapman barred the door, hastened up
stairs and the two first named appeared
at the window armed with Springfield
rifles. Walsh and bis men Jnsbed on,
armed with clubs and revolyers, and
ionnd Officer Stack near the door, whom
they assaulted with climbs, knocked him
down and three pistol shots are said to
have been fred at him, one Of which
wounded him in the head. Wallace and
Gleyre then called upon the crowd TO dis
perse, when more shots were fired by
the Marshals. Wallace and Gleyre then
shot into the crowd and Deputy Mar.
shAls Neville and 0'Connor iell dead,
and James Doyle was wounded. The
Marshals then retired, taking with
them their dead. Mayor Bowman in
the meantime appeared on the ground
and be says narrowly escaped, as one oil
the men in the engine houses be claims
took deliberate aim at him and fired.
By quick jump sideways he avoided
being hit, the ball entering the ground
only few feet from where he had stood.
While the fight was progressing the
alarm bell on the engine house was rung
and the Metropolitans hastened to head.
quarters from all directions. By this
time the Marshals had retired and moth.
ing further was done.
Mayor Bowman Immediately tele-
graphed TO Belleville, the county seat, for
Sheriff Weber and the County Coroner,
Caully, who arrived this afternoon. Web.
er went to the headquarters Of the Net
ropolitans and arrested officers Wallace
and Gleyre, and Coroner Caully will
hold an inquest on the dead tomorrow.
The circumstances which led TO this IN.
fortunate affair are numerous and cover
much time in many events, dating rs far
back as 1867 when the metropolitan
law was passed by the Legislature. This
law has been pronounced unconstitu-
tional several times by the Supreme
Court, but the force has 10 someway man.
aged TO exist. 1t has been totally ig.
nored by Mayor Bowman, who organized
force Of Deputy Marshals under the
city ordinance, and the result has been
two district forces OF police, which have
been at swords points for months
past, and conflicts more or less serious
have been almost daily occurances. There
are also two political factions in the city
called Bowman and Anti.B Bowman, which
are very bitter and vindictiye and stop
at no means to among each other. Mayor
Bowman says even granting legality Of
existence, Of Metropolitan PoliceCommis-
sioners and force the original Legislstion,
specially provides that they shall
be entirely separate and distinct from the
city Of East 81. Louis, and shall not use
or occupy any Of the city's property.
Therefore he or his officers had Alright 10
dispose ofthe engine house.
Further trouble was apprehended TO.
night, but up TO the present writing all Is
quiet on the other aide Of the river. The
probabilities are that NO further violence
will occur.