The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-02-28
SLATTERY WILL SPEAK.
The Right of Free Speech VIII be
Upheld in Savannah.
BARRED OUT OF MASONIC HALL.

The Ex-PrIest, However, VIII Secure An
other Hall, and the Citizens Will Protect
Him from Mob violence-Another Day
of Excitement.
SAvANNAH, Feb. 2s.-Yesterday was a
day of great excitement here. There was
one general expression Of opinion, and
that was that Slattery should lecture
again II he desired, If 1t took the whole
military force and half the citizens to pro-
tect him. Prominent Catholics unite in
this opinion, and declare that nearly all OF
those participating in Tuesday nights
riot We're non churchgoers. 1t has ceased
to be "a case of an ex-priest desiring to leo
ture, and has become in the minds OF
many question Of the preservation of the
right of free speech in Savannah.
Mrs Slattery was booked to lecture TO
women at Masonic Temple yesterday after
noon, and at o'clock, under police escort
she and her husband were taken to the
hall. Prior to this the managers of the
Mems Hebrew association had notified
Slattery that they would break tho con-
tract and refuse to allow the use of the
hall which they have leased as his Ian
gunge melted to riot and endangered the
lives and property of citizens. Slattery
Arriving at the hall the police refused to
admit any one Several hundred women
were turned away. Slattery and President
Haas, of the Hebrew association, became
involved in a wordy dispute, and the chief
put Slattery under arrest, but released
him, as Haas declined to enter any charge.
After Slattery had waited an hour for
lawyer 1t was decided that he and his wife
would go back to the hotel. The police
were ordered in line and the mounted Of
flcers decided to clear the streets at once
Hundreds of people ran wild to get
glimpse of them. A crowd of women
had been grouped just outside of the curb
on Bull street, and as the ex-priest and
wife passed they were Missed loudly and
spat at. The police had their hands full
to keep the passageway clear.
When the Pulaski House was reached
It was almost impossible to see the hotel
for the people who had congrcgated. The
Masonic hall would have been unable to
have held the women If it had been opened.
Finding the hall locked, many came
down to the Pulaski House. There Mrs.
Slattery held a reception. Hundreds called
on her, and some rendered her the use Of
their parlors to lecture In. Such scene
had never been seen before In this city. At
one time over a hundred women were in
the hotel parlor crowded about the ex-nun.
II the lecture had been held at the hall
hundreds Of citizens would have gathered
around it to protect those inside II the at
tacks by roughs had been resumed,
The refusal to let Slattery have the hall
Is being severely criticized. He is making
arrangements to lecture at Odd Fellows
hall tonight and the outlook is that there
will be thousand men out to hear him.
The entire police force will be on hand,
and some of the military companies will
probably BIO held in reserve at their ar
mories.
Lieutenant Colonel Reilly. who com
manded the First regiment on Tuesday
night, is u Catholic. In newspaper state
ment he says: at was disagreeable or
deal for me, but l was there to do my
duty. l had determined on that. / gave
my commands in u way to leave no doubt
that l meant business"
People will continue in a nervous state
until after tonight. The hope is generally
expressed that after it has been shown to
the world that free speech is maintained
here that Slattery and his wife will leave
Savannah at once. . W..