The herald., 1896-02-09
SHE ALMOST RAISED A RIOT
Wife of the Cowboy Preacher Placed
Under Arrest
She DISTRACTED the Street and Sidewalk, and
Openly Defied the Police-A Very
Queer Combination

The wife of the cowboy preacher, Mrs.
j r. Rice, was arrested by Officer Fowle
last evening at 0 o'clock and locked up on
charge of obsructing the sidewalk. The
woman was holding forth on South Spring
street, between First and Second, in front
of Gothhelf's millinery store, and soon at
tracted such crowd that the sidewalks
and streets were completely blocked.
Officer Fowle stepped up to the woman
and politely asked her to desist as she was
obstructing travel and inconveniencing
large number of people. In place of COM
plying with the request the woman turned
upon the officer and began 10 abuse him,
defying him to arrest her. She declared
that she had right to be where she was,
and said that she intended to stay. She
finally declared that she considered herself
under arrest, and dared the officer to take
her to the station, saying that as soon as
she was released she would return and re-
sumo her preaching.
AS the crowd was increasing every min
ute, the officer finally placed the woman
under arrest and started with her to the
police station, large number of people
following after them. At the station the
doors were closed to keep out the crowd.
and an attempt was made to reason with
the woman, but she was obdurate, insist
ing that if she were released she would at
once re urn to Spring street and renew ber
preaching. The crowd continued to gather
about the police station and it finally be-
came necessary for the officers to clear a
passage on Second street. This had to be
repeated several times.
In the meantime citizen came forward
and volunteered to put up bail for the wo-
man. She was asked il when she was re-
leased she would go home, and replied that
she would not, but would resume her
preaching at once. On this statement the
citizen withdrew his offer of bail, and the
woman was locked up. Later her husband
went to the station, Dut he was not per-
mtted to sec his wife.
Officer Fowie says that the man took the
woman to the place where she caused the
disturbance, and left her. He further SAYS
that week ago the woman was on the
street, not preachiUg, but begging, and a
charge for that oifense may be entered
against her.
There is no question hut the people are
frauds. They are beggars, neither more
nor less. Some time ago they were arrest
ed in Chicago, when S26O0 worth of Gia-
monds were found concealed on their per-
sons. Tho long haired individual iuEenu-
ously explained that the reason he put his
good and safe investment.
Tho woman wanted the police to go to
her lodgings and get her infant. but this
Qlest was refused She was told that il
her husband or any one else would bring
the ch,id TO the station she could keep it
with her, but it was too much 10 ask the
police to- go after it.
The cowboy preacher is the fellow who
has been recently having trouble with his
wife, who, it is alleged, has instituted di-
vorce proceedings against him ON account
OF his relations with a young girl in this
city.
AT midnight the ''Cow57y Preacher APP
peared at the police station with the baby.
| The authorities extended to him every
courtesy, and the little one was given over
to its mother, who was sojournng in the
| receiving hospital.
| short time after this bail was given for
| the mother and deposited with the clerk.
| The woman was then released and the
party left the station, thereby closing the
| incident for tho night.