The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-01-31

There was trouble in the Syrian
colony Tuesday night, and the police
were called in to quell the small riot
that was proceeding. How the
trouble started is not definitely
known, as several stories are aflOat.
There are two parties in the colony,
one being Greek Catholics and the
other Roman Catholics, and it is I'M
derstood that trouble has been brew
ing between the two factions for
some time. The parties in the
trouble Tuesday do not seem to
have divided off exactly on religious
lines, however, although in the main
this was the case, according 20 some
of them. Some claim that others had
been drinking too much.
Faddoul Kouri is the merchant OF
the colony and the chief man. His
statement is TO the effect that several
of the young men engaged in little
dance in a second story room, which
caused the plaster to fall off in the
room below and annoyed the occu-
pants. Several went up to remon
strate, and trouble followed, and one
after another became involved until
fifteen or twenty were actively en-
gagged in the conflict, both in the
building and outside. Some claim
that the Roman Catholic leader,
Besharn Abraham, drew a revolver
and wanted to shoot somebody and
that this started the trouble, while
others deny this. Joseph Maroon.
who is very peaceably inclined, sent
his boy to the police station for as
sistance, and himself went to the
nearest meat market and telephOned
for assistance. Four officers respond
ed, and had great difficulty in making
out who had been engaged in the
fight and who had not. Finally
twelve parties were arrested and
locked up at the city hall, while the
remainder stayed around and tried
to make the thing plain to the
officers and point out which were
guilty and which were not. The re-
suit was babel of voices and none of
them plain to an American ear.
Depees Famous, who is the uncle of
Besharn Abraham, received blow
from a Ratchet which laid open his
lip. Abrahams cousin, Fanous's son,
Rack DepeeS, got a very black eye
from contact with cordwood stick in
the hands of another. Shaker Mix
heem was also considerably hurt.
The twelve were arraigned in the
municipal court Wednesday, and
nearly all the rest of the colony were
among the spectators. Abraham
Saba, boy, was released, all agreeing
that he was not in the fight. All Of
the rest pleaded guilty and each was
fined $3.50. Mr. Kouri wrote out
their names for the information of
court, as follows: Besharn Abraham,
George Abraham, Famous Frencees,
Abdalla {. Joseph, Depees Famous,
Rack Depees, Hacked Boukeleel,
Habeeb Alien, Farees Alien. Shaker
Mikheem and Chirley Saba.
Some of them did not want to plead
guilty at first and began talking back
and forth, but were quieted by the
court, who said he did not want au-
other riot to occur Messrs. Kouri
and Besharn Abraham acted as in
terpreters, and finally all pleaded
guilty. The court stated that he had
been more lenient than he would
again. They had committed an Of
Tense against the laws Of the country,
and one which in their own country
would be punished more severely. He
admonished them. not TO get into any
more trouble. This was the first
time that they had been brought be-
fore him. He also advised them to
rent more houses and not live SO many
in one place, and there would be no
trouble. If they did not, the health
department. or thes police might look
into it.
The total fines amounted to S95 is.
which Mr.. Kouri paid, he expecting