The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-17
SOME LIVELY SCRAPPING.
BOTH FACTIONS IN EVIDENCE AT
THE COURT HOUSE.


warrants Against Detective God
bOId-LIberaIites Did Not Like the
Idea of Policemen Being Around
the Registration Omce-rhe Total
Repatriation 6,G24, of Whom l'<ol
Are COIored-sOme Gossip About
the Coming Election.
The registration closed yesterday after
noon at O'Clock midst turmoil and con-
fusion There was practically free-ior-
alright, in which both members Of the
Liberal and Citizens Club factions engag-
ed, and for some time the scrapping was
pretty hot
1t was about 515 o'clock when the
trouble broke out. There had been po-
liceman on duty there all day, and De-
tectives Godbold and scully were detailed
for work there by the chief OF police.
When the scrapping became general and
it looked as if somebody was going to be
hurt, Capt ]. J. MCGOWAN, the tax col
Iector. in whose office the registration Is
carried on, sent out and asked that other
policemen be sent there for the purpose
of preserving order. Two or three more
policemen were sent and an attempt was
made TO straighten out things. but it was
well nigh impossible until after o'clock,
when the door was closed and only those
who were fortunate enough to get inside
were allowed TO register thereafter.
There are two sides TO the story of the
scrappjng. and it is a hard matter to make
head or tail of it, or tell just how 1t be-
gun. This much is certain there was
long line of parties waiting to register.
Among them were some who were holding
places for business men Of their side who
had little time 20 wait. Naturally every
body wanted the best showing possible,
and the effort to get it preclpitated the
mix-up.
The story as told by several members OF
the Citizens Club faction, was that Mr..
Isaac Cohn, for some reason or other at
tackled Policeman Farrell, who was sent
there to aid in preserving order. AS he
did so. It is stated Detective Godbold In
terfered and showed cohn TO one side
whereupon Cohn went at once over to
Justice Patterson's office and swore out
two warrants against Detective Godbold'
CndrKlnk MN IN one WIN NeAA , AAo ~NA+
cealed weapons, and in the other with as
sault and battery. The warrant charging
him with carrying concealed weapons al
legged that he drew a billy with which to
strike Mr.. Cohn. Detective Godbold was
released on a $3.50 bond in each case, the
bonds being signed by Mr.. H. e. Dreeson
and others.
Members of the Citizens Club faction
also state that their opponents, when
they found out they were in the minority
around the registration office, sent on
for ex-Policeman Mcguire, and eX-f1re-
men Duffy and Murphy to aid in the rush
ing and line work. Detectives Scully and
Godbold were sent there by the chief of
police TO aid in preserving order
So the story goes on one side, and, on
the other hand members of the Liberal
Club wing felt very much outraged at the
bad treatment they say they received
from the police, as well on account OF the
trouble said to have been stirred up by
members of the other faction. After the
registration had been concluded, several
well known members OF the Liberal club
had a quiet meeting at the court house,
and the testimony of Mr.. NJ. A. Buttimer,
Deputy Sheriff r. F. Higgins and ex-
Policeman Mcguire, with regard TO the
affair, was taken. Their testimony was
taken down in shorthand, and state
ment of what they said was prepared, as
follows:
Contrary 20 the custom heretofore pre-
vanng, this morning Police officer Hal
ford made his appearance at the registra-
ton Office. When asked why he was there
he replied that he had come under or
ders. At O'clock Policeman Hahord
was relieved by Policeman Farrell, who
also stated he had come under orders.
Detectives Godbold and Scully We're
around the registration office all day.
Cfodbold made himself exceedingly obnox-
ious by attempting to intimidate colored
men Who were in the line seeking to be
registered. He told several of these col
ored citizens If they attempted TO register
he would arrest them. He frequently
would take a party from the end of the
line, a Citizen Club heeler, and place him
at or near the head of the line.
."At BIS o'clock p. m, a party OF city Of
ficials consisting of Supt. b. O. Rogers OF
the o. +. NJ. department, Supt. II. i. Dree-
son of the scavenger department, Supt
w, H. Peck of the crematory, Deputy
Sheriff Willink Of the city court, Health
Inspector Clements, Mr.. Allen of the o
y. M. department. and Mr.. Auvergn'
d'Antignac, made its appearance at th'
court house. These men took their stant
in or near the door of the tax collector
Office They refused to either enter tn
Office or TO move in any way. Their ob1ec
was plainly to block the registration
-
the Office to preserve order at Capt Nc
Gowan's request, made several unaVailini
efforts TO have these parties move so
to enable parties TO register. There wa
a rush TO enter the office, and when Il.
Rogers made an effort to draw weapon
evidently pistol, Deputy Sheriff higgins
whose attention was called TO this, remon
strated with Mr.. Rogers, who then with
drew his hand from his hip pocket. Shorti
after this Officer Farrell began clubbing
some negroes who were disorderly. MI
Isaac Cohn rushed to Officer Farrelfs as
sistance when without any provocato
Detective Godbold drew from his poke
billy and attempted to strike Mr Conn.
This is the statement Of the situation a
given by members of the Liberal club fac
tion, derived from the testimony OF IN
foregoing parties, who were around tn
registration Office. 1t was the interference
by Detective Godbold that subsequent
led to the two warrants as stated.
But there were other exciting scenes
3. Dayton was in evidence during the day
He is wellknown populists and ha
been working IN WIlghts behalf. IA
had a difficulty IN the line and make
the claim that detective Godbold assault