The Helena independent., 1893-08-19
ROWDYISM IN CHICAGO.
Tho Wifo OF tho Cowboy Evangelist AS
snultcd by HoOdluMs

Tho Wifo OF tho Cowboy Evangelist AS
snultcd by HoOdiums.
Many Helena people will recall Justin
Rice. the cowboy preacher, and his prcH,
little wife, who year ago hold oren al
meetings at tho hoad OF Main street, and
invited sinners to repentance with various
degrees OF sucosss and failure. just now
they are wot king in Chicago and. judging
upou a fruitful field. The Chicago Record
Of Monday last contained the following:
mrs, Emma Rice wife OF the cowboy
preacher. Justin Rioe WAS again sublscsed
TO abuse and made target for rotten ap-
plss. tomatoes and various other articles
while conducting Yesterday her customary
Sunday afternoon gospel meeting at the
corner OF Madison and Peoria streets. Inc
soenes of tho night before. in which the
evangelist wns abused, resulted in gather
ing nearly 500 at the meeting yesterday
afternoon. When Mrs. Rice mounted her
stand she appeared to be very nervous and
auitated. She had hardly begun preaching
when q rotten apple struok the stand. This
was the signal for a general shower OF do
csyed fiuit aud vegetables. Mr'. Rice
stood her ground. however. ana when the
ombardment had ceased she SAID: Aou
are a crowd OF towards and robbers; you
robbed me last night and defy YOU to do
your worst this afternoon This little I'D.
dress only seemed to incense tho crowd
ths more and again abe was made the tar
Get. If you cannot behave like gentlemen
and let me conduct my meeting shall call
for police profession. Which Is mueh against
nv will she said.
Some ono OF he. friends had. in the
meantime. tsIephoned to the Desplatnes
street station and asked that officers be at
once sent to the scene of the disturbance.
Sergeant Lee, with ten officers. was de-
tniel to go 10 the meeting and disperse the
crowd il necessary. When they arrived
there tho threatening appearance and &C.
tions Of tho turbulent gathering eauaed
Sergeant Leo to order his mon to dispe 81
H. The people were driven in all direc-
tions and but little trouble was exper-
fenced in getting them away until Officers
NcGrath and Hopper oame uion John G.
tho ouchtare and dsfed any officer to mnke
him move on. When he refused to obey
tho officers placed him under arrest md
locked him up at the Desplninss street sta
tion.
''While the officers were dispensing the
crowd Mrs. Rice again mounted hsr STAND M
and be gan to preach, and concluded her
sermon without being fu'ther nolestsd.
John Miller will bs arraigned before Jus
tjcs Doyle this morning to answer to
charge Of disotderly conduct. After
the crowd had gone away and
S1as GG1s' was was .urroanaea ass by her
ous followers who loudly appandod
he- actions in deDouncing tue crowd. Yes.
Ihnvs had quite hard time of it lately.
she said. Last night when these robbers
and loafers began abusing me appealed TO
them to desst, as l am not very strong ana
cannot stand much of a strain. They acted
like a lot of demons. and l surely thought
they would carry out their their threat to
lynch me, but I suppose that when they
saw me lying upon the ground In faint
their bravado left them. They were about
to pursue the same tactics this afternoon,
and believe that if the po,ice had not ap-
pea ed they would have handled me roughly.
No, will not stop preaching at this corner.
They vii! have to kill me Fl ST.
Justin Rice, the cowboy preacher. was
not around yesterday after BON, and his
wife explained his absence by stating that
he was preaching elsewhere in the city.
Inspector l. wis said that at no time have
either MIR. or Mrs. Rics asked him for pro-
teotion."
The Record Of few days later says:
"Justin Rice, the cowboy preacher, and
his wife. Margaret Rice. were a1raignea in
Justice Doyie's court yesterday morning
charged with holding religious services at
Madison and Peoria streets Monday night.
The officers aaid that Mrs. Rice disobcysd
their orders and defed them to arrest her.
This she denied, Justice Doyle fined her
&o5 and costs and otGe cd her committed
u the bIidewel. Later sho promised to
obey officers in tho future aud was released
under a suspended fine"
For the credit of Helena be il said that
no matter what success they met with the
cowboy cacher and his wife were allowed
to talk as long as thev pleased and when
ever they wished, without being molested
Or even taunted.