Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-06-24
THE HooDLUMs REIGN.

THE HOODLUMS REIGN.
Deplorable Condition of AnAirs In East Sta
Louis. Ininois-The City In the Hands OF
Thugs and Robbers, Who Attack Their
Victims in Broad Daylight and Beat and
Plumber Them-A Plucky Little Women.
ST. LOUIS, June 16.-Affairs in East
st. Louis are in a deplorably shameful
condition, and unless there is some radi.
cal changes made among the municipal
authorities Immediately, the respectable
residents of that city will be compelled
more "dark and bloody page" must now
be added to the blackened history of that
unfortunate city.
At eight O'Clock this morning City
Clerk Tim Canty entered the mayors Of
fee. There he met City Attorney O'Mel.
veny, who was in the midst of lot of
legal papers. He accused, in a very
abrupt and forcible manner, Mr.. O'Mel.
veny of circulating stories derogatory to
his reputation. Mr.. O'Melveny, in q
positive but gentlemanly manner,
denied the allegations, and pro-
ceeded about his business Canty
was not satisfied. He wanted gore
to paint another scene in his record, and,
O'Melveny being very small man and
unable to resist an attack, the big duffer
grabbed his victim by the hair of the head,
crushed him to the floor and kicked and
pounded him in a most brutal manner,
infiicting several ugly gashes on the back
of his head and almost running his eyes.
After firing he left the mayors Office
and disappeared. Mr.. O'Melveny was
removed to DR.. Winton's office, where
his wounds were dressed and he was
cared for.
This attack on Attorney O'Melveny
was the latest of a series of diabolical
outrages.
Highway robbery is now the order of
the day.
At five O'Clock yesterday afternoon,
while the streets were filled with people,
two men were knocked down on Dyke
avenue and robbed, one of three dollars
and half and the other of one dollar and
a half, together with all else in their pos
session.
The next hold-up occurred near the
approach of the bridge, in the vicinity of
the East ST. Louis hotel, where an old
man, helpless in years, was knocked
down and brutally beaten and his valu-
ables taken.
The Green Tree hotei was the next
scene of the daylight footpads. Here
they accosted a man in the street, near
the hotel, and asked him to treat them.
He refused. The garroters then picked
the man up bodily and carried him from
the street to the hotel yard and t.ere
pummeled him into silence and then re-
Heved him of what valuables he had.
Mrs. Seng, wife of the proprietor of
the Green Tree hotel, witnessed the rob-
berry from a window, but was unable to
do anything but cry out for help. There
being no police, the thieves paid no at
tention to her and finished their job.
After their victim was released, ana told
to depart, they returned to the street to
hunt fresh victim. They were not long
in finding one, and were carrying him
bodily into the yard when they were met
by the brave lady above mentioned, who
met them at the gate with cooked re-
volver staring them in the face.
81 will kill the first man that enters
this gate!" she exclaimed, ''and 1 will
die in my tracks before 1 will allow an
other man to be robbed in my yard!"
The hold-ups, fearing the brave little
lady meant business, returned to the
street and rif1ed their victim in the pres
ence of numerous persons, who looked
on from a distance with trembling fear,
or were in cahoots with the gang.
ALI these robberies occurred yesterday
afternoon between three and five O'Clock,
which shows the daring of the gang that
have the sympathy of the municipal au-
thorities over there.
At eleven O'Clock last night John
Steinert, nephew of the late eX-MayOr
Bowman, while returning home from st
Louis, at point between Strider's and
Gross saloon on Dyke avenue, met six
thugs, two of whom he identified as the
men who beat up Kirk, who knocked him
down, beat him and robbed him of six
dollars.
How long this condition of affairs will
continue to exist is matter that seems
impossible to determine. The respecta-
BILE citizens are in state of excitement
bordering on frenzy. No man, woman or
child is safe to go upon the streets in
broad daylight, and the nights are filled
with awful fears of violence and whole
sale robbery.
t City Treasurer Alex. Flanagan told
reporter some time ago (before he be-
came treasurer) that he wanted the thugs
and hoodlums to run the city because
they would throw their money away and
@'we' would get it. 1t is not to be sup
posed he meant he wanted things to 60
as they are going now.
Petitions are being circulated, signed
by the best citizens, praying the mayor
to appoint night watchmen. This is, as
the citizens admit, fruitless GRAND for
mercy and protection. 1t the mayor
could give no protection to the railroads,
he can give none to the people; he ha
nothing, can give nothing, and is moth
ing. If he should step down and out, it
would be good radiance. Crime in its
most daring and terrible phases is the
rule in East ST. Louis, and unless some
protection is afforded very soon there
will not be decent citizen left in it.
Reversed His Own Decision
CINCINNATI, June 17.-Judge Huston
5esterday afternoon decided that County