The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-08
RIOTING At ANDERSON
POLICE COMPELLED TO DRAW
THEIR REyoLyERs ON A CROWD.
Drunken Muncie Mans Deed-Forger
Young, of ConnersvilIe, still Miss
ing-ShoOting Tournament Scores.
to the indianapolis Journal.

ANDERSON, Ind, Sept THE State
celebration of Labor day ended this even
ing in a riot, and for about an hour there
seemed to be great danger that an attack
would be made on the county jail, as a
crowd of half-drunken glass blowers from
Muncie were determined to effect the res
cue of one of their friends who was held
in custody. John Flarity. the prisoner in
question, passed the Doxey House, walking
in the roadway. He thrust his cane into
the wheel of d bicycle ridden by woman.
She was thrown to the ground. Flarity' 8
actions were witnessed by a large crowd OF
his cronies, who seemed to regard it a
good joke. Encouraged by their plaudits,
a little further down the street he thrust
his cane through the glass case of a pea
nut stand on the sidewalk Chief of Police
Coburn attempted to arrest Flarity, but
he took to his heels Sheriff Starr wit
messed the attempt to arrest the Muncie
man, and joined in the pursuit. Flarity was
too drunk to run fast, and was soon over
taken by the chief and the sheriff.
They had scarcely laid hands on him
when they Were surrounded by a mob of
forty fifty men, who attempted to rescue
Flarity. Other policemen came running up
and the officers, fighting every step of the
ay, finally managed to get into the middle
of the street, east of the courthouse. The
yells and oaths of the fighting mob reached
the ears of people two or three blocks
away, and in an incredibly short time u
thousand or more people were standing
about the crowd trying to see what was
happening. 1t was almost impossible for
the officers to advance toward the jail SO
sharply was every inch of ground con-
tod tlxyt inf md
determined friends At last two of the
oyerpowered, and drew their revolyers, but
not until one of them had his face badly
beaten and had his helmet knocked off.
Look out!' some one yelled. they are
going to shoot!' The hundreds of spec
tators turned and fed in all directions and
the fighting glass-blowers were somewhat
dazed for a moment or two and separated
far enough for the chief and another officer
TO slip away with the prisoners. While
they hurried to the Jail, two blocks away,
the other officers kept the crowd at bay.
In moment OF wo, however, the glass
blowers saw that they were outwitted and
broke around the officers and again start
ed in pursuit. But they were outdistanced
by the officers and F'larity was safely
lodged in Jail before they reached him.
The Jail and sheriff's residence is sur
rounded by a high iron fence and the front
door is reached by a fight of stone steps
leading Up from the street. Upon these
steps the officers took their stand and de-
terminedly kept the crowd down for
moment, but the men began scaling the
fence. They were met at the door by adj
dtional officers, who refused to give them
admission to the building. There were loud
and angry demands for Flarity's release
and some Of the more turbulent of the
crowd declared that they would break the
doors down if he were not released IN
stantly.
Dell Robinson, deputy sheriff of Muncie,
came Up about this time and had con-
ference with Sheriff Starr, who agreed to
allow Flarity to leave upon the deposit of
a cash bail Robinson appealed to the
crowd to dispense, promising to take FLAIR
delegation. BY and by they were Gained
down somewhat, but left still highly in
famed with anger. Robinson made good
his promise and Flarity returned with his
party. His clothing was half torn from
his body in the desperate struggle he made
to get away, but he was not badly hurt.