The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-21
ALMOST CAUSED A RIOT
POPOCRATIC HOODLUMs ATTACK A
REPUBLICAN MEETING.
william Keller Seriously Injured
with a Brick Thrown by the Hood
Iums-Arrests to BE Made.

Popocratic hoodlums cannot sit still ana
see the Republican hosts marching on to
victory. Last night they attempted to
break up a Republican meeting that was
being held at the corner of Lincoln lane
and East street, and one of them struck
William Keller, the Republican committee
man for the Fourteenth ward, in the face
will a brick. cutting entirely through his
lip and knocking out three teeth. As usual
the police were not near enough to render
any assistance, and no arrests have been
made. Many of the P~opocratic hoodiums
who took part in the disturbance are
known and will be arrested to-day.
A meeting was to be held in a tent, and
before it begun those in charge saw that
they would have trouble before the evening
was gone unless they could have the pro-
lection of some policemen. John PautZer
telephoned to the police station at A O'Clock
in the afternoon for assistance. and Su-
perintendent Colbert promised an officer.
Another telephone call was sent in about
Z o'clock, and Captain Quigley promised to
send an officer. This was before the time
for the regular s O'Clock telephone calls
Of patrolmen, and officers would have been
ordered to go there not later than s o'clock
if not sooner, for the call had been in for
over half an hour when the s O'Clock calls
were made. As it was no officer reached
the scene until 9 o'clock, long after the
damage had been done.
Before the meeting had been called to
order Mr.. Keller saw that there were many
outside of the tent who were there simply
to make trouble. Soon the hoodlums be-
gan pulling at the ropes of the tent, and
went so far as to cut so;ne of them, weak
ening the support of the large tent and
actually endangering the lives of those
inside. When this occurred Mr.. Keller and
some others went out to see what could
be done to stop the disturbance. They did
not hope to be able to do anything to stop
the noise, but thought they might prevent
any damage being done. In this they were
mistaken, for they evidently did not know
the real character of a Popocratic hood
lum. The hoodlums kept up their noise
and also their constant pulling at the ropes
or the tent. They also threw missiles at
the tent. In an effort to get them to let
the tent alone many words passed from the
mouths of the hoodlums too vulgar to
print. Finally several of them made a
others to prevent them doing
any damage. In the melee one of the hood
lnms threw a brick which cut entirely
teeth. This occurred about five minutes
after the meeting had been called to order.
which was at !:45 o'clock; Or. Wagner
was then speaking, and Mr.. Spooner was
on the platform. 1t was more than an
hour after the damage had been done that
the police arrived on the scene.
Warrants will be sworn out to-day for
the arrest of several of those who took
part in the fight, and an attempt will be
made to teach them a lesson.
A physician could not be secured i'm
mediately, and DR.. Wagner was called
from the platform to attend Mr.. Keller.
Later DR.. Sharrer was summoned and
dressed the wound, several stitches being
required.
The whole affair seemed to be an organ
lied attempt to break up a meeting of the
Republicans in this Democratic strong
hold. During the afternoon sufficient was
learned to show hat an attack would be
Pautzer to ask Superintendent Colbert to
send a patrolmah to keep order. Popo-
Gratis cannot keep their mouths closed, and
the Dragging of some of them that the
meeting would be broken Up was the first
fntimation of trouble that was received.
When the disturbance outside became so
great as to interfere with the speakers
several others, went out to see if they
could not stop it. They found the mob
headed by Popocratie. Committeeman
Mauer. These men told the Popocrats that
all they asked was to be let alone.
This is our night" they said, land you
should allow us to hold our meeting here
quietly. Tomorrow night you will have a
find us there to break it up"
These pacific remarks did no good, but
seemed to simply anger the mob, and i'm
mediately the trouble began which resulted
in the injury of Mr.. Keller. What seemed
to anger the Popocrats the most was the
fact that in this Democratic stronghold
the Republicans could draw a crowd of
speeches. It is more than the Popocrats
have been able to get out.