Omaha daily bee., 1888-04-04
BULLDOZINC AT THE POLLS.
Florence Men Kept From Voting BY
aDrawn Revolver.
SHERIFF coeuRN SENDS AID.
A Drunken Contractor Tries to Carry
the Election BY Eorce-Sioan
Elected Mayor Of
South Omaha.
A Very Lively Election.

There were hot times and a reign OF terror
at Florence yesterday, the result of the con-
test at the city election. and the officers from
Omaha had TO be called to secure order. The
hight was between the prohibitionists and
ants over the election of mayor. The oppos-
ing candidates were early in the field and
some spirited canvassing was done. Every
thing went along s%wimmingly without any
trouble until about 10 o'clock in the morning,
when 1t is said that Il. ID. Callahan, q con-
tractor of this city, who had the Job of grad
ing the new waterworks site, rode up
to the polls. He was fighting drunk and
swore he could lick any twelve men in Flor
ence. The voters took his word for the
assertion and did not attempt to test his
prowess in that line. This seemed to flatter
his self-importance, for with a string of oaths
he next declared that he intended to carry
the election. Not much attention was paid
TO this at first. He disappeared for a short
time, but soon returned with q squad of
workmen; and although none of them were
legal voters the judges were forced to re-
ceive their ballots. Callahan had first pulled
a revolver from his pocket, and handing it
to a confederate, gave orders to him to
shoot when necessary. Callahan then
took possession of the polls and challenged
every voter who stepped up TO exercise his
uo OH CltlLtI. III
the vote was TO be for anti-prohibition, it was
allowed to be dropped into the ballot box.
but If for prohibition the voter was ordered
away, being threatened with violence if he
attempted to vote.
DIR. Sullivan, a well known citizen, stepped
forward and said he was a legal voter in the
city of Florence and he proposed to cast a
ballot for prohibition. With an oath Gala
han sprang forward and struck the doctor a
blow in the face that knocked him to the
ground and brOuUht the hlon6 IN tnrropto
from his nose. j. u. Vandercook one of the
Wealthlestc citizens in Florence, was Just be-
hlnd the doctor at the time of
tins repulse, and thinking dis
heels.
Inc candidate for mayor on the prohibition
lcket who had been an indignant witness of
these hlgh-handed outragcs, brought the city
marshal and a number of policemen to arrest
Callahan. This enraged the athletic con-
tractor, and springing upon the ~anti-whisky
champion he gave him a merciless thrashing
In the presence of the officers. The prohibi-
ton man yelled Justify for the police TO come
and help him, but the officers stood rooted to
their pla fearing the desperate appearance
OF Callahan and his motley crowd of disci-
pies. Seeing the police were powerless MIR.
j. IL Nandercook sent the following telegram
to Sheriff Coburn:
Come to Florence at once. There is a riot
at, the polls. Answer at once.
J. E. y~ANDERcooK.
The sheriff replied Immediately that he
would lend a helping hand, and sent Deputy
Sheriff Houck to corral the terror of the
polls. Meanwhile Callahan had succeeded
in driving all the prohibition men from
the polls and had permitted no less
than sixty illegal votes to be cast. When
Houck arrived in Florence he was greeted
with JOY by the marshal and the police force,
VINO urged him to arrest Callahan immedi-
ately. He replied he could not do this with
out a warrant, and all repaired to the office of
Justice Deland, to. have one sworn out. This
wearer of the judicial ermine seemed greatly
at a loss to know how to fill the paper
out, and in just two hours after
Houck went into the Office he came out with
the necessary legal papers.
When Houck reached the polls lie found
Callahan patroling the place on horseback.
Watching him until he alighted the deputy
got out of his buggy, walked up to him and
told him he had a warrant for him.
The = you have said Callahan.
YES, l have replied the deputy.
DO you think you will serve it,"
~ know | WILL" was the determined reply.
IF you value your personal safety get right
into my buggy standing there"
After a little more parley, seeing Houck
meant what he said, Callahan submitted to
arrest. After the two were IN the buggy
Callahan called for his crowd to follow, but
they were promptly checked by Mr.. Houck.
The deputy then drove from Florence to
Omaha, six miles, alone with his prisoner,
reaching this city about Z p. m.
When Houck turned the prisoner over to
the sheriff the latter official discovered that
the commitment made out by the learned
dispenser of justice at Florence
did not have any charge whatever
against Callahan. The sheriff said he could
not hold him, but thought best to make
Callahan believe he was being released on
his own recognizance. The sheriff told him
he would let him go for the night provided
he would go to his home on South Tenth
street. He promised to do so, but returned
shortly afterwards, saying he wanted to go
to Florence. The sheriff finally coaxed him
out of this notion by showing Callahan that
IL would put him (Coburn) before the people
in a bad light in thus letting him go back.