The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-08-15
ACQUITTED.
Two Circus Men and their
Keokuk Troubles.
The Marshal and his un-
usual treatment.

of procedure is objected to, a fight ensues,
and more or less blame is attached to the
organization for permitting the attaches
to defend property and even life.
A striking instance of this fact is Illus
trated by the recent acquittal at Keokuk,
of Daniel Green and Charles Derricks, two
employees of the Forepaugh show, who
were charged with assaulting ]. III. Boyd.
at that city, with intent to do bodily harm.
The evidence at the preliminary examin-
alton which was concluded last Saturday,
was of such character that the two pris-
oners were acquitted, and they consequen-
tly joined the show at this city to-day.
The members of the show most familiar
with the whole affair are of the opinion
that the proceedings following the assault
partook largely of persecution instead of a
legal prosecution as is generally expected
from the law and its legal officers.
HUGH coYLE,
the press agent of the monster Forepaugh
show and who is himself an old newspaper
man, having been at different times connec
ted with the Washington Telegram and the
Elmira Bulletin, is pronounced in his de-
nunciation of the treatment which the ac-
cused received from the legal officers at
Keokuk, and the persecution which follow
ed their arrest and attempted conviction;
or at least holding over for trial in the
Circuit Court
Mr.. Coyle said in explanation of the af-
fair that the show visited Keokuk on the
5th of August. They paid a license of
800 which is generally supposed to in
clude the police protection of the city
while the show is located within its linn
it's
Among the many persons who were at
tracted to the performance was man by
the name of J. H. Boyd. resident of
Montrose. Boyd was intoxicated" said
Mr. Coyle, land while in that state is rep
resented as pugilistic character whose i'll
win is dreaded and whose presence is a
terror" He Is very large man, weighing
275 pounds and coTespondingly powerful.
Boyd attempted to force his way into the
side show without paying the entrance fee,
and the attaches resisted his entrance. His
course of conduct was not shared by his
two brothers in law, who attempted to per
suade him to desist. Mr.. Coyle said that
for their trouble these men or at least one
of them received a severe blow from the
man Boyd.
The showmen called for the police but
without effect, as there appeared to
be none of the officers in sight. Boyd in
the meantime was becoming more obstrep-
erous and succeeded in effecting an en-
trance. At this time a canvassman struck
him over the head with stake and thus
quieted him as well as the excitement
which had resulted from his conduct.
THE CITY MARSHAL,
Jack Hardin, Immediately arrested two
men, D. Green and Charles Derricks, for
supposed completely in the affair, although
it was then proved that the former, who
is treasurer of the side show, was at the
Patterson House, confined to his room by
sickness. These two men were imprison-
ed and at night were confined in a cell,
and shackled in most unusual and inhu
man manner Mr.. Coyle was deputized to
stay in Keokuk and see that the accused
had fair trial.
He was assisted by j. b. Clark, Joseph
Hepp and Jas. Cannon.
To properly present the case, two emf
nent lawyers, Craig 81 Collier, were en-
gagged and the preliminary examination
commenced A few witnesses testified
that Green struck the blow, although their
testimony as to his appearance and dress
was so conflicting that their evidence was
not at all damaging. Twenty seven wit
nesses, including a physician, the clerk,
porter and bell boy, of the Patterson
House, testified that Green was not on the
circus grounds during the melee, but was
at the hotel. confined to his room by sick
ness. The prisoners were accordingly re-
leased last Saturday, there having been no
case proved against them.
Boyd, the cause of the trouble, appeared
on the stand for the prosecution, and as his
injuries are not of severe nature, Mr.
Coyle as well as the other members of the
show are at a loss to account for the per-
sistence with which the marshal and his
friends pushed the prosecution Mr.. Coyle
said, 1.-The better class of people in Keokuk
took our part, as, while we all regretted that
any trouble should occur still we feel that
the persecution of Green and Dericks was
unwarranted and uncalled for. 1t was In
timated that Hardin is a candidate for
sheriff, and was thus Jealous over Boyd's
case for political effect in the county"
PRESS OPINION.
In speaking of the case the Keokuk Con-
stitutson says:
The trial of Green. charged with assault
ing j. FL. Boyd, of Montrose, at the circus
grounds on the day of Forepaughs show,
terminated this afternoon at three o'clock,
Squire Lynch acquitting the defendant on
the grounds that the testimony was not
sufficient to convict. Dericks was also dis
missed
It is understood that Mr. Green and De-
ricks win institute a suit against the state
of Iowa for damages.
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