Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-12-27
THE SHARON-HILL CASE.
An Exciting Scene Growing Out of 1t
at San Francisco.
Correspondence Of the New York Sun


SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 20.-There is
no end Of complications in the Sharon
Hill case; nor is there likely to be an
end until the original suit, perhaps
accompanied by some of its side
shows, gets into the Supreme Court
of the United States 1t will, Judge
Finn fancies reach that high tribunal
at last. It's latest outcome is fine of
$500 imposed upon one of Althea
Hills lawyers, who has been adiudg-
ed guilty of contempt Of court. A
part Of the drama pevious to the
court scene was enacted on the City
Hall steps on Sunday afternoon last.
William NJ Nelson, reporter
who had espoused Althea Hills cause,
had announced his intention to speak
on the City Hall steps upon 'Califor
MIA Behind the Scenes, " and it was
known that he would handle the
police without gloves, and perhaps
utter many things that would be
unpalatable to ex-senator Sharon. A
large multitude gathered accordingly.
Nelson began, and SEINE roughs on
the other edges Of the gathering
pressed in toward him, keeping their
hands In their overcaot pockets, but
they made no demonstration until he
began to warm up in his denUncia
ton of Sharon and the Chief of Pc
lice.
Instantly there was a shower of
uncomfortable eggs, and that part
of the multitude which was not IN
sympathy with the rowdies set up
the shout, S'Sharon's money! Sharon's
money!" Thereupon Nelson made
a yet more vigorous attack upon the
ex-senator, and the police, and ar
raigned the Grand Jury for presenting
Althea Hill At this point with
imprecations and shouts of derision,
the roughs flung more eggs at the
speaker; and their supply running
short, they sent a committee out to
get more. The gang, meantime, got
themselves into the middle of the
multitude, and there they shouted
and drowned the speakers voice.
Nevertheless he was heard to say that
ala influential member of the police
force had got an Office by stufing
ballots, and another policeman who
was high in authority had Kissed into
his (the speaker's) ear that he should
ere long find lodging in San Quentin
prison. Nelson went on to say that
a government in which milionaries
control police, courts, juries, and
grand juries is worse than a mon
archy. All his hearers, save the
egg-throwing cowd, applauded.
Nelson now told his hearers that the
police had purposely been kept away
from this meeting, and there was a
new shower of eggs. A young man
shouted, Give Nelson showr' and
instantly the roughs sprang upon
him.
The young fellow struggled despera-
tely, knocking down three of his
assailants before he was overpowered.
He backed up the steps, fighting as he
went, the roughs followed him, strik-
ing him in the face, body, and legs.
Nelson stood near by, but not one of
them attempted to touch him. The
one man whom the dozen We're beat
ing was pulled from his footing and
knocked down on the stone steps.
For half q minute nothing was seen
but the struggling mass, each one
endeavsrimg to strike or kick the fall
len man. The spectators held back
letting the roughs pummel their vic
tim, but several had the temerity to
blow their police whistles, and the air
resounded with shouts for the police
While the beating was going on Neil
son descended from his elevated posi-
ton unobserved by the intruders, and
escaped without being hit even by an
egg. When his absence was noticed
the disturbers let up on the almost in
sensible man at their feet, who stag
gered up, disclosing to view face
covered with blood, bruised, cut, and
macerated.