The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-22
THAT RIOT AT ST. JOHN,
AS Told in Detail by the "Coun-
ty Capital"
The Local Paper Published in
the County Seat.
Attaches Of the Show Nearly Had
Their Own Way Numerous Rob
berries Committed, Says the
Local Paper.

The County Capital the weekly pa
per published at St John in Stafford
county viii give the following account
of the trouble with Bond Bros circus
at that point on Monday. Advance
sheets have been sent to the State
Journal:
Bond Bros show was in St. John to-
day, and it appears that there were
more toughs than anything else con
nected with the show. Gambling
stands were plentiful. and St. John was
fun Of suckers, confident fhey could
cope with expert gamblers, toughs, ruff
fans and cutthroats in tacklng the
blind tiger" Soon some fellow kick
ed himself because he had been bled for
$40 another for S15 or $50 and even more.
Young boys We're roped in and fieeced
of their money, until about o'clock
p. M. the ground was full Of people
who felt sore and mad at some one
principally On account of q display Of
their own lack of good judgment. One
of the shOwmen was arrested, charged
with gambling with a minor. Somehow
he gave the officers the slip and after
wards could not be found. Ohicers de-
manded of the managers of the con-
Germ to give up the prisoner. but they
played ignorant About 100 q warrant
was sworn out for one of the managers,
named Allen He was arrested by
Constable Lamoreux and Deputy Bill
GIasscocl1 The prisoner refused to
surrender and come along with the
officers of the law. Soon his pals sur
rounded him and told the officers to let
the man go that he wasn't the fellow
they wanted. and with force endeavor-
ed to take Allen from them. Failing in
this. the counter sign, hey rube," was
passed along the line, and the show
force, to the number of fifty or seventy
five. with clubs and all sorts of battle
instruments surrounded the officers.
prisoner and citizens gathered, and
regular riot ensued. Tt looked blue for
awhile, the officers and others We're
knocked right and left, shots We're fired.
and Charley Glasscock was felled to
the ground and seriously if not fatally
injured on the head. VIM Cadman,
deputy marshal. struck on the head.
Jacob Bishop and VIM GiusscOc0 were
also injured. Ia the riot. the showmen,
exceeding in number. better armed and
better prepared generally. put the ON
GERS and others 10 flight, and after that
defed arrests and pandemonium
reigned supreme. People began to arm
themselves with WInchesters, reyolv-
ers and other deadly weapons planned
a general attack, bat lacked the cour-
age of execution. Thus St. John seem
ed to be at the mercy of thugs and cut
threats. Sheriffs. constablas and mar
shals We're Inadequate to the occasion
County Attorney Jennings set himself
in communication with the governor
asking for the militia, and the governor
responded promptly, asserting to the
request. a move was then put on foot
to retain the show train till the arrival
Of the militia, but was unsuccessful
About - O'Clock at night the train
pulled out for Dodge City, and the citl>
/ zens of St John felt outraged. The
/ place where the show tent was pitched
is half a mile south of St John, near
the depot, and during the night many
of the people going to or coming from
the depot were held up and robbed of
/ valuables and revolvers.
About II 80 a. M. April p, q company
Of militia, from Newton. arrived in St.
/ John. The militia is now here. while
Sheriff Dykes and three deputies spro-
1 ceeded to Dodge City with a warrant
I for twelve men, and in case they fur
/ Their resist arrest. the company intends
I to proceed to that place. else return
home this evening.