Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-04-16

THE WOMAN BEGINNING HosrILrTIEs.
grounds they were surprised to see
negro and negress eng aged in wrestling
over pint bottle of gin. The negro
finally wrestcd it from the woman and
started to rum away with it. so 20 -
Nobody intersered. There was not u
policeman in sight. The capitol police
force is made up of politicians, who re-
ceive $1,000 each per annum, and who
do nothing but walk around the capitol
building III beautiful blue uniforms.
Not one of them was out in the capitol
grounds to prevent the disgraceful
scene. 1 H.'
There ought to have been one of our
city policemen somewhere in the vicin-
ity; but none. appeared, and the fight
went,on. The woman grabbed the negro
by the coat collar, struggled with him
for the bottle, and finally he threw it
away over the bushes which line the
capitol grounds. 1t struck tree trunk
and was destroyed. That did not end
the fight. = '.h' "...'' '.'',
The woman began pounding the
negro with her fists, while she uttered
a TRADE of CHASTITY profanity. The
statesmen and newspaper men did not
feel called upon to enter the arena in be-
half of either contestant. Moreover, it
is dangerous to interfere with the
negroes of Washington, for nearly all
of them, of both sexes, carry razors.
So the fight went on, the woman doing
all OF the swearing and pounding.
Finally the negro shook her from him,
and again tried to run, when she again
grabbed him.. He then took hold of her
hair, and swinging her around like a
top, dropped her upon the hard cobble
stones on the south side of the street.
All this occurred within 200 feet of
the capitol building, and at the edge of
the beautiful grounds surrounding that
splendid legislative temple. When the
woman dropped, the city policeman APP
peared block away. He was called to
by the assembled crowd. Everyone
beckoned to him, but he walked uncon-
cernedly down the street, as though he
were merely out for promenade.
There might have been murder COM
mitted; but it seemed to make no diff
ference to that alleged guardian of the
law. lie was in no hurry If any wom-
an of ordinary. physique had fallen as
that negress fell, it must surely have
fractured her skull. But she arose and
went after the man again, and, long be-
fore the policeman reached the original
scene, the woman caught the negro a
block away and again began to assault
him. ...-..........
The policeman now saw what was GO
ing on, and he leisurely walked towards
the fighting couple. Somebody must
have told them that a policeman was
coming, for they desisted from strug-
Cling, and ran away. Still the police
man walked slowly along down New
Jersey avenue, and he looked as pretty
picture of the majesty of the law as
one would care to see.
The crowd dispersed, the majority
going into the capitol building; but, so
far as was observed, no arrest was made.
The policeman was in no hurry.
The capitol grounds are not properly
policed. Numerous outrages have been
committed there at night, and the rec
oEdS VI Vic PoiiSO Souie ShoW ehds SS'
eral murders have occurred. Probably
the fault is with congress. 1t is certain
that the superintendent of police for
years past has made annual recon-
mendations for appropriations which
would enable him to employ additional
policemen, but the appropriations have
not been made.
At the foot of Capitol hill, on the west
side of the grounds, are the botanical
gardens, and beyond them for fully a
mile are the arsenal, Smithsonian, ag-
ricultural and monument grounds,
forming a continuous park, containing
numerous oldtrees with widespreading
Branches. There is an excellent drive
way along the entire distance and there
are numerous pretty walks within the
parks. But no part of this beauty spot
is safe at night, because the police force
is inadequate. 1t may be said that, as n
general rule, the members of our metro
politan police force are diligent and
brave; and the specimen referred to
on Capitol hill is an exception.
You must not infer that the negro and
negress are types of their race in the
national capital. But the quarreling
couple, who began their fight over a
bottle of gin, represents majority Of
their race in this city, and large ma
lo-;t,, 80 ~ f1n Pint there are Soma