The herald., 1894-04-04
BLOODSHED AT THE POLLS
A ReligiO-POlitica Riot in
Kansas City.
Catholics and Anti-CathOlics in
Armed Conflict.
The Clash Occurred at the Munici.
pal Election.
One Man Killed, Three Fatally and
Two Seriously Wounded-rhe
Ouigrowth OF A. p.
A. Agitation.
By the Associated press.

By the Associated Press.
KANSAS Cry, April 3.-Ths American
Protective association and the Catholics
came together in bloody conflict at the
polls today. 1t cannot be stated which
side is responsible for the fray, as each
side charges the other with being the
full cause Of all the trouble.
More than 200 shots were exchanged
between the combatants in less than so
many seconds, and when the firing
ceased the following named were lying
dying or injured on the pavement:
Killed-Mike Callahan, city sidewalk
inspector, shot through the right side,
Fatally iniured-HsrIy Fowler, labor
er. shot through the back; Con Brosna-
han, contractor, shot through the kid
neys; Jerry Pate, deputy constable, shet
in the face.
Wounded-Patrick Fleming, shot in
the left shoulder; John McGovern, la
borer, shot through the right side.
The riot was the elimination of bitter
feeling, which had been manifested by
actions and words ever since the polls
opened in the morning. The two an.
tagonistic elements were solidly divided
in their choice OF candidates for 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 of
bigotry. 1t was, therefore, in no amiable
mood that the workers of the respective
Lactions came together at the different
polling places throughout the city, and
that workers came expecting trouble to
occur before the day passed is apparent
from the number of deadly weapons that
we're in the riot when the first shot was
fired.
The riot which resulted so seriously
was the climax OF q series OF smaller
riots that took place at other points
earlier in the day between the same op-
posing factions. This riot took place on
the southwest boulevard, very close to
police station No. g. and those who took
part in it had been heated to fighting
temper by reports that had been hourly
arriving at the station OF brawls at other
polling places. Only an hour before it
was known that John Geolev, stone
mason, was shot in the back and fore
head by William Henry Walker at a
voting place at the corner of Fifth and
Campbell streets, and that the row was
directly due to q fiery debate between
the two men regarding the principles OF
the A. P. A., to which Geolev was vic.
lently opposed. That Geolev was not
instantly killed was due simply to the
fact that the pistol used was q mere toy
OF % csliber.
The A. P. A. which supportes Webster
Davis, the Republican candidate for
/ hoA hasu
different polling places, and they dis
tributed in some precincts their own
tickets bearing their candidates name
and decorated with the American flag.
Jim Prior, q Fittn.ward politician an
taRonlstic to the A. p. A, who snp-
ported Frank Johnson, the Labor runion
and Democratic candidate. WAS active at
the head of the 30 constables whicn he
got Justice Latshaw to appoint last
night. 1t is said that the constables
were, many of them, irresponsible char
acters and we're solely the cause OF the
trouble. Consequently there were loud
threats of moOoing them before they
were got to headquarters after the
bloody riot was over.
1t is claimed that one OF Prior'a fol-
lowers fred the first shot. That one
was Mike Callahan, and he was killed
the next moment. Then the battle be-
gan. The deputy constables at this
polling booth and the workers of all the
political factions crowded together in q
solid mass, about 100 strong, and every
one of them seemed to be armed. For
minute or two the discharge OF weRp-
ons sounded like q volley of musketry
by regiment. Hundreds of citizens
gathered at every point of vantege to
witness the battle which, however, was
of short duration. These on-lookers
trembled with wild excitement. Many
of the residents along the boulevard
added to the general feeling of terror by
leaning from their windows, shouting
and gesticuating wildly. In less than
five minutes from the time the first shot
was fired, however, the bluecoats from
station No. had appeared on the scene
and quieted the disturbance. With
their frat approach the fighting workers
ceased hostilities and made a quick
effort to hide their weapons.
Prior's men are claiming that Gala
han was an innocent victim. They
assert that it was Jerry Pate, an A. P. A.
man, who fred the first shot and that
was the shot that killed Callahan. Pate
was serving as q constable. having been
appointed by Westport justice to serve
/ . AVI bAo hEIObb VI JOnu 1Tl0r,
Jim Prior, hie son, and Bert Prior for an
alleged felonious assault on a citizen
earlier in the day. He and Callahan
met. had some words and either one or
the other fred the shot that commenced
! the conflict.
Prior's side of the story gets some
color from the fact that Harry Arthur,
who is, however, one of Prior'a follow
ers, says he himself is the man that
shot Pate in the face. According to his
story he WAS standing on the bridge that
crosses o. K. creek, close to the scsne Of
the riot, when Jerry Pate and another
man came on the other end OF the bridge
in buggy with four men running be-
hind him. When Pate reached the spot
whore Arthur was standing he jumped
out OF his buggy with gun in his hand,
and. grabbing hold of Harry McGovern,
said: Here's one Of the men we are