Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-10-28
THE EVIDENCE IS IN.
That Against the Lyons Militia
Company in the Fulton
Instance.
STATEMENT OF ]. G. JOHNSON

Also the Declarations Of Two Rotk I.lsnd
Cit,zsns Und. Osth-rsstimony OF,red
in Sustaining the investigation - to the
Iavasion Of illinois she Night OF aux, IS
Last.
The evidence sustaining Gov. Tan
ner in calling upon Gov. Drake, Of
Iowa. for an investigation as to the
invasion OF Illinois at Fulton By
arms OF the Iowa militia company
stationed at Lyons, the night of Aug
IS last. has been mace public
through Des Moines, Iowa. The
principal evidence is contained in b
communication to Gov. Tanner from
General Attorney j. G. johnson, Of
the Woodmen order, and the affidav-
it's OF Fred Kann and c. H. Seidel, of
Rock Island. MIR. Johnson's letter
was sen: to Gov. Tanner direct, and
the statements Of the Rock Island
citizens were submitted with the
oihsr testimony forwarded by The
ARGUS. Their Contents were with
held until hey we're given out
through the proper authorities.
MIR. JOhnson's letter follows:
fulton. H., Sept. IS, 1897 To
the Governor: Comply ing with your
request for a statement from me as
to my personal knowledge OF arms
having been brought into this state
from Lyons, Iowa, to Fulton. ILL.,, on
the evening Of Aug. Is, 1897, l have
to submit the following:
"On that evening WAS at Fulton
engaged in an attempt to remove the
records Of the Modern Woodmen OF
America from that city to Rock Isl
and. During the disturbance at
tending that effort l was placed I'M
der arrest by deputy sheriff on q
warrant issued by the peace officer.
After my arrest 1 was conveyed for
safe keeping to the city hall situated
On the main street of the town. and
was there held for several hours in
custody Of the deputy sheriff While
at this place was allowed to go g.
the front door and, when chose. ou'
Oh the porch in front of the door
About $3.50 p. m. there was quite q
crowd in front Of the building and
the officer in charge Of me, Fred
X. Ba-tian, the postmaster at Fulton
and for the time being acting as {
special deputy sheriff to take charge
of me, ana the person who seemed {,
be directing generally the opera
tions Of the Fulton people, stepped
out upon the perch. and l also went
out upon the porch. just then there
was quite disturbance and a team
drove up in great haste attached to
q sort OF hack; some one on thu
wagon called for Mr.. Bastian and h
went out and collcquy took place
| between him and the man having
charge Of the wagon, whom l recog
nized as Frank Holleran, formerly o.
Fulton. now practicing lawyer o.
Lyons, and, as l am informed, &
lieutenant in the company Of
Iowa militia whose quarters are a
| Lyons. Mr.. Holleran told Mr.,
Basiiar that he had brough, over tn,
guns and told him further that hi
(Holleran) was personally responsible
f.r them and they must be returned
to him. Mr.. Bastian then commenc
ed designating persons in the Grove
and on the sidewalk, and reque sting
each to take gum directing that
they 90 down with them to wher.
tie Rock Island train lay. Someone
demurred on the ground of lack o.
authority, and then some other per.
son, think the mayor. commenced
to swear in those who were being
armed. Mr.. Bastian argued with
and persuaded people to take gun,
and as fast as any one expressed 9
willingness Mr.. Holleran gave him q
gun and explained how 10 use the
bayonet, and cautioned the person
receiving the gun to be sure and see
that it was returned personally tc
him, giving his name TO those with
whom he was not acquainted. H.
was especially particular to inssruc,
those thus armed as To the most i'm.
proved method TO stick anyone with
q bayonet.
There must have been from IL to
Is guns thus given out while l was
allowed TO stand on the porch, and
the arming was still going on under
the direction Of Messrs. Bastian and
Hulleran when l returned to the
room. While on the porch l stood
within 10 to IL feet of the wagon and
the parties. (signet)
j. Il. JOHNSON.
General Attorney NJ. W. A."
Rock I.land Cit;z ,ns' Testimony.
Fred kann alleges Ia his AFFIDAVIT,
that Aug. IS. at Fulton, shortly afse,
the WOodmen records were removed
from tho building TO the train. 9
crowd RI probably 50 men, armed
with rifles, and bayoness attach he'd
appeared in the streets, and that he,
fearing injury. repaired to Clinton
Iowa; that at 2 q. m, Aug. IA, while
in Clinton, he saw IL TO ID persons
cross the bridge from Fulton tc
Cliaton armed with rifles and bsyo.
nets, property OF the state OF Iowa
that he conversed with the men, who
said they were mem ers Of the lows
militia. aud had been assisting In
preventing removal of the Woodmer
rocorda q II Satdel vho sooon,