Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-09
TWO MEN ARE SHOT
I'm a Riot Over the Lectures Of
Ex-Pfiesr Siattery.
He CREATES A RIOT AT kE0kUk
Resulting IN the lining OF Rsvoivef Into
the crowd-Angry and Turbulent
Scenes Enacted in Hall.


Several days ago the town Was covered
with the announcements OF proposed
series of lectures against Roman
ism. TO be delivered by the Rev. Joseph
Slattery of Boston, claiming TO be an
ex-pnest, and by woman who, 1t was
claimed, had been 3 nun. These an
nouncements caused great excitement
and intense indignation among the
Roman Catholics of this city, all OF
whom maintained that the couple were
frauds and insisted that they snould
not be allowed to speak. The agent
for the couple secured the Grand Army
hall for their use. Several Intellectual
attempts were made TO deprive them
of the use of this hall. The trustees
were waited upon by several COM
mlttees, but to all requests gave de-
cided refusal to cancel the contracts
with the Slatterys. 1t Is alleged that
one member of the post even went so
far as to say that the couple should
have the use of the hall and Of the
muskets also. Failing III their attempts
to prevent the Slatterys from having
the use of the hall, move was made
upon Mayor Craig. 1t was represented
TO him that the appearance OF the Stat
terys upon the lecture platform would
cause a riot and he was asked to do all
IN his power to prevent the speak
ing. The city clerk refused to
issue license for the lectures. The
buMness manager for the Slatterys
waited upon the mayor and tried to
induce that official to issue an order
that the license be granted. This Mayor
Craig refused to do, informing the
agent at the same time that the Shat
terys would not be allowed to speak In
Keokuk.
slattery supporters Rally.
When this was made public support.
ers Of the Slstterys said they should
speak, and at once set about arrang.
ing for free lecture. Hand
bills were distributed announcing this
fact. Long before the hour arrived
for opening the doors Nam street in
front of the Estes house, on which the
Grand Army hall is located, was filled
with people who were TO all appear
ances, only there from motives of curl
osity. The crowd was increased stead
lily until it appeared ~ If all the peo-
pie in the city were on the ground.
When the doors were opened there
was rush which all the efforts of the
police could not stay. When the
entrance to the hall was gained . man
was found at the door whose object ap-
peared to be to prevent all whom he
suspected of being Roman Catholics
from gaining admission. The crowd
pushed by him and the man, becom-
ing excited, cried for help.
Men who had been admitted to the
hail before the opening of the doors
for the public came rushing forward
with loaded muskets in their hands.
while others with revolvers climbed
upon chairs and ordered the mob to
keep back.
Shot In the Legs.
Excited individuals shouted that Stat
terry would not be allowed to talk,
while the frenzied men in whose hands
were loaded weapon said that he would
talk. Just then, according to the best
information obtainable. . row occurred
in the rear of the hall. During Its
progress and while the police were at
tempting to clear the hall \ shot was
fired and two men were seen to fall.
A rush for the exits ensued, and the
hall was quickly cleared. Then 1t was
discovered that the injured men were
1tIICA 8LO uOLl8S ulcuus
Both were hit in the legs, the former
having bad flesh wound in the left
leg, while Glenn was shot in the knee
cap Of the right leg. Just now the
shooting occurred Is not known now,
done by John Elmer. Persons who
were IN the immediate vicinity of Eff
ner say that he had q musket and
kAA 10 eel
from him and that during the struggle
for its possession the weapon was dis
charged with the result above stated.
The injured were at once cared for by
surgeons whose Offices were in the
building and then removed to their
homes. Following the shooting Sheriff
Kerr notified the Slatteries that they
would not be allowed to speak, and ap-
pointing a number of deputies, placed
them in charge OF the hall and of the
people who had come to the defense of
the lecturers. Outside the crowd was
bowling for Slattery and the man sup
posed TO have done the shooting. and
threats of lynching we're freely in
dulged in. The limited police force
emergency, and all that could be done
Wa w ACCp tnt SiOWu ItSI6lDts
Ropes Called For.
Efforts to disperse the infurated
people were unavslling. When Glenn
WAS carried out upon . stretcher calls
were made for ropes with which to
hang those supposed to have been re-
sponslhle for his injury and promptly
responded TO. About this time one OF
the local priests, FIR. O'Reilly, a
man whom all the people venerate and
respect, put IN an appearan ce and cir
cuiating among the crowd his presence
nsd the effect of subduing the excite
ment to some extent and gradually the
crowd dispersed, but il was not until o
late hour that all bad gone to their
homes While these scenes we're being
enacted outside efforts we're being made
to get Slattery aud his wife and the
men whom the crowd thought had
MANNED Glenn for hrs life away
in safety. This was finally accom-
plished. the slatterys being placed in
. hack and driven across the bridge
while j. A. NJ. Collins was secretly
taken 20 bis home Soon after the
shooting warrants we're issued for the
arrest Of John Elmer and J. A. NJ.
Coliins, the former being charged with
the shooting of Glenn aud the latter
With that OF Harrington. II = also
said that warrants were issued for the
arrest of the sistteTys on . charge OF
MEETING rot Elmer IL said 20 he q
member of the Grand Army. Collins
- one OF the best known add most
prominent men 10 keokuk, being inter-
ested in many local enterprises and
also the secretary of the local loan and
build lns associations. II IL almost &C r.