The herald., 1895-05-19
The Disreputable Methods Of
Cowardly Men
A DESpICABLE DETACHMENT
The Residence Of J. 7. Steward
Smesred With Petroleum
~ Ancient Tin wssh.Bellsr Full Of the Stuff
Dumped on His Front Steps and
IL Cement Sidewalks

Some persons who object to the position
taken by Mr.. J. T. Steward with refer
ence to the regulation OF the oil wells in
the western part of the city conceived
what they thought was bright idea. and
carried it out Friday night under cover
of darkness.
Mr.. Steward has a handsome residence
on lockwood street, between Belmont
and Union avenues, with broad cement
walk about 35 fe ct long leading to the
steps and another broad cement walk in
front of the property.
Some time during the night two per-
sons and possibly more carried an old tin
wash boiler full of crude petroleum to the
esidence steps and poured its disagreea-
BILE contents upon them. They then car
ried the boiler to vacant lot across the
street and west from the residence, where
they left it and where it was found yester-
day morning. after the family discovered
the dirty trick.
The petroleum ran down the steps.
spelling them, and nearly covered the
walk. finding its way clear to the street
across the cement sidewalk, which was
also smearet with the sticky stuff in u
number of places.
The petroleum was not cleared OIL dur-
ing the day, and the scene of tho occur
renee was visited by many of the neigh
hors, who felt as much outraged by it as
Mr.. Steward himself.
The police were notified and an attempt
is being made to discover the perpctra-
tors, although the latter left no clue TO
their identity except the boiler in which
they carried their unsavory load.
Several oil we'll owners spoke in un-
measured terms of the petty spite work
shown by those who did the trick. and
said they would use their best endeayors
in assisting Mr.. Steward to ferret them
c,st and have them punished. Mr.. Shew-
ard himself. when seen at his store on
Spring street. said that he had offered
500 reward for the arrest and conviction
of the night hawks and vandals. He
stated tlrat this is the second time such a
trick has been played upon those resi-
dcnce owners who have taken similar
position to that taken by him. Between
four and five months ago crude petroleum
was smeared about the residence of DR..
L. W. Wells in much the same way. al
though not to such great extent as in
this case.
MI Steward also states that he is not
fighting the industry. but the manner in
which it has been conducted. believing
that to be offensive and detrimental to
his house and to the residence property
interests of his neghborhood. He mad,
he said, conducted his opposition law
fully and had done nothing that could be
criticised from a moral or legal stand
point.
From the chance passing by of two
neighbors, Mr.. Steward thought the pc
troleum bearers had accomplished their
purpose in the early part of Friday night
between . and 10:3O o. clock. They were
returning home at the latter hour and
observed a dark stain on the walk in
front of the residence, bus supposed it
was water from faucet that stands near
the house. The wash boiler is an
ancient affair. such as is commonly used
and up to last night the police had not
been able to trace it to any especial owner.