Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-08-02
RESISTED ARREST.
George Afford the Central Figure In an
uncipient Riot.


Saturday evening, shortly after seven
o'clock, a telephone message came to
Police Headquarters from the Bellevue
Hotel, asking that an officer be sent
there at once. Officer George Well |
brooke responded at once and when he
arrived at the saloon being conducted
in the Bellevue building he was re-
auested to arrest Geo. Afford. the well
known oil man, who was intoxicated
and had been raising a distur bance.
When Wellbrooke approached Afford
the latter showed disposition to go
with him quietly, but number of
drunken bystaude-s interfered and
ad Used Afford to resist arrest. This
Afford did and as he started for Well
brooke the latter struck him heavy
blow over the head with his club.
Then pandemonium reigned aud the
contradictory statements of eve wit
nesses make it almost impossible TO
give the exact facts.
As is well known, Afford is a giant
gle between him and the officer became
desperate battle, the two men being
almost instantly surrounded by
shouting mass Of humanity greatly
excited and part of it very drunk. The
struggle was transferred to the street
in front of the saloon and Officer Well
brooke would proba bly, have succeeded
in landing his man but for the inter
ference of Affords friends, who kicked
and struck him whenever possible and
finally snatched his club and threw
him down in the street. The crowd
then took possession of Afford and
attempted to get him on the ferryboat
and across the river but were inter
cepted by Marshal Jake Dye, who
promptly took Afford from them and
locked him up in the city prison.
While the attempted arrest was being
made by Officer Wellbrooke hundreds
of people were attracted to the scene
and the street was packed from curb 10
curb When placed in prison Afford
was a horrifying sight, with numerous
gashes in his head from Well brookes
club and his clothing soaked through
and through with blood. He was
promptly attended to and gives no eyi-
dence of serious injury. Officer Well
brooke also was considerably used up
but remained on duty.
The worst feature of the affair was
the action of number of drunken
men after the arrest, who endeavored
to stir up Affords friends to make an
attempt to force the Jail and liberate
him. The excitement soon died out,
however, and the incipient riot came
to an end without further trouble.
Afford was charged with disorderly
conduct and had a hearing before the
Mayor Sunday morning. He gave
bond of 800 and was released until the
time for his trial.
The occurrence is unfortunate and
dsgraceful Mr.. Afford is widely
known throughout the oil fields and
though he has had trouble before il
may be said it was always when Under
the influence of liquor When not
drinking he is considered one of the
most gentlemanly operators in Mariet-
ta 1t is more than likely that had he
not been egged on by Others who
wanted to see fight he would have
! gone home quietly with the officer and
avoided a scandal Earlier in the eve
ming he had come to blows with some
of his friends, who also were drinking.
but no serious damage resulted
officer Wellbrooke made a hardy and
nervy fight to hold on to his man and
that he was overpowered by the mob
is not to his discredit lie was not
armed, which was proba bly, most
! fortunate state of affairs. In speak ing
of the trouble Officer Wellbrooke states
that he believes he would have had no
difficulty with Afford had it not been
for outside parties, most of whom, by
the way, are spotted, and will be Wig
orously prosecuted.
During the melee Mayor Meisenhel-
der appeared on the scene and com
manded peace, but no attention was
paid to him, and the fight went on
until Afford escaped from Wellbrooke,
The mob dishonored the city by its
outrageous conduct which should be
punished with heavy hand.
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