The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-04-05
BLOODY ELECTION RIOTS.
KANSAS CITY MUNICIPAL ELEC-
TON ENDS IN BLOODSHED.
The American Protective Association and
Its Opponents Clash and -Four Fune-
rails Will Result - Further
Trouble Likely to Follow.

KANSAS CITY, April 3.-The Amer
lean Protective Association and the
Catholics came together in bloody
conflict at the polls in this city today.
1t cannot be stated which side is re-
sponsible for the affair as the parti
sans of each loudly charge the other
with being the full cause of all the
trouble. More than 100 shots were
exchanged between the cOnlbatants in
lese than that many seconds and
when the firing ceased the following
named were lying dead, dying or in
jured on the pavement:
Killed-Mike Callahan, city side
walk inspector; shot through the right
side.
Fatally Injured Harry Fowler, Ia
borer, shot through the back; Con
Bresnahan, laborer, shot through the
kidneys; Jerry Pate, deputy constable;
shot ia the face.
WOunded-Patrick Fleming, shot
in the left shoulder; John McGovern,
laborer, shot through the right arm.
The riot was the elimination OF
bitter feeling which has been mani
tested by words and action since the
poll opened this morning. The two
antagonistic elements were solidly
divided in their choice of candidates
tor mayor. The aggressive support
that each side gave TO its candidate
during one of the hottest campaigns
ever Known in this city, engendered
a strong sentiment VI bigOtry. Ii
wac, therefore, in no amiaDle mood
that the workers of the respective
factions came together at the different
polling places throughout the city
and thaT the workers came expecting
trouble to occur before the day wore
away is apparent from the number Of
deadly weapons that were drawn
when the first pistol shot was fired.
The riot that resulted so fatally
was the climax of smaller riots thai
took place at other points earlier IL
the day between the two religious
factions This riot took place on the
Southwest boulevard very close tt
police station No. 8, and those whC
took part in it had been worked up tC
q high pitch of excitement by reports
that had been hourly arriving at the
station of braWls at other polling
places. Only one hour before, it wa:
known that John Cooley, a stOnema-
son, was shot in the back and fore
head by VIM. Henry Walker at {
voting place, and this was directly
due to fiery debate between the two
members regarding the principles o
the American Protective ast0cia ton
, to which Cooley was violently OPP
posed. That Cooley was not instant
, ly killed was due to the fact that thu
+ pistol was mere toy Of % calibre.
The American Protective assOcia
ton, which supported Webster Davis
the Republican candidate for mayor
had their own workers at the differ
ent polling places and they distribute
ed i'm some precincts their own ticket
bearing their candidates. names ant
, decorated with the American flag
< Jim Pryor, q Fifth ward politician
, antagonistic to the American Protec
= tive association, who supported John
, son, the Democratic candidate, was a
! the head of the 80 cOnstables which h
got Justice Latshaw to appoint las
night, 1t was said by some that tn
constables were many of them IRE
spousible characters and were solel,
the cause of the trouble. Consequent
= ly there were loud threats of mobbinl
e them before they got to headquarter
after the bloody riot was over.
: 1t was claimed that one of Pryor
Y followers fired the first shot. Tn
+ man was Mike Callahan and he was
Y dead man the next moment. The
Y the battle began. The deputy constf
\ bles at this polling booth and tn
6 workers of all the political faction
crowded together in a solid mas
about 100 strong, and every one (
,, them seemed to be armed. For
u minute or two the discharge
T. weapons sounded like discharge
II musketry by regiment.
n Hundreds of citizens gathered {
5. every point of vantage to witness til
It battle, which, however, was Of sho
o duration. The onlookers tremble
d with excitement. Many of the res
V dents along the boulevard added
il the general feeling of terror by lear
IS ing from their windowsH fouting ar
~ gesticulating wildly. In less ths
= five minutes from the time the fir
- shot was fired, however, the bluecoa
from station No. had appeared upC
the scene and Quilted the disturbanc