Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-09-13
EXCITEMENT At THE FAIR.
The Sherifr and Suspicious Char
acter have a Set-To.

One of those unfortunate occur
renees, which are likely to cross the
path OF any officer of the law, hap
pened 10 Sheriff Decker at the fair
grounds on Thursday last. He had
been assigned duty on the grand
stand by chief Of police Parker upon
that day, and was in the discharge
OF his duties as an officer when he be-
came involved in an alteration with
one jackson, a stranger who it seems
had the privilege ofselling score cards
of the races upon the grand stand.
The Sheriff had been instructed by
his chief to keep order upon the
stand, and was also ordered by Pres.
Groschner to especially keep persons
seated while race was in progress,
as there was considerable complain
ing from those occupying the stand in
this respect. 1t seems young Jackson
was on his feet, making himself con
spicuous during one of the heats of a
race, and the Sheriff commanded him
to sit down while the heat was being
run. This he refused to do and com
menced using vile language towards
the officer. who then took hold of
him and set him down; this brought
on additional words, the result of
which was the Sheriff hit the young
man with his billy cutting his head
and.making the blood come, at which
a general cry of disfavor went up
from the crowd who had witnessed
the fracas and they commenced max
ing it pretty hot for the officer. Mar
shall Burns came to the rescue and
had the young man conveyed to the
city, when he was placed under ar
rest for disorderly conduct and put in
the cooler.
While there is no doubt it was has
ty for Mr.. Decker to strike the Of
Tending party, yet the young man
brought it upon himself, by incensing
the officer with his bad and threaten
ing language.
Jackson was brought before the
Mayor Thursday evening, who let
him out on bond for his appearance
next morning, but when the case was
called Friday the charge had been
withdrawn and the prisoner was al
lowed to go free. He was not serious
ly hurt.
Wishing to learn something of the
character of Jackson, upon inquiry
we learned that he came here from
Urbana, o., with a gang of other sus-
picious characters, whom the officers
found out to be set of robbers and
pickpockets. Jackson himself had
been put without the grounds several
times for shady transactions, and
others of the gang had been arrested
for trying to dispose of articles upon
the grounds which were said to have
been stolen, notably a lot of specta.
cles, which had been taken from an
old man at Urbana just a few days
before.
The same fellows were also suspic.
ioned as being guilty of attempting to
rob the trunk of one the showmen,
who had his canvass near the main
entrance to the fair grounds. These
things were known to the officers and
all of thegang We're under the surveil,
lance of the minions of the law, and
their actions were being closely
watched when the fracas in the
grand stand occurred.
Bro. Russell, of the Signal, says he
was compelled to get out an attach,
ment upon the fellows who had the
score cards printed before he could
get his pay, and that Jackson tried
to get out of town by beating his way
on the railroad