Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-10-13
HE USED HIS SWORD.
Captain Of Militia Company
Slashes the Mayor, City Mar
shall and Others.

Stoughton, Wis, Oct. 9.-lSpec1ail-
There was q hot time in this old town
last night when the row over possession
of the armory building reached climax
Capt. ROLLS, in making an effort to
seize the hail. drew his sword and began
slashing right and left, and when his
performance was at it's height the armory
building might easily have been mistaken
for the scene of cake walk few mo-
ments after the judges had rendered
frank" decision.
The list of injured includes City Mar
shall Erdah, Constable Hoverson and
Mayor Roe, each of whom now knows the
keenness of the doughty captains sword.
The captain was finally overpowered and
arrested, but has been released on bail.
Origin of the Trouble
Stoughton has militia company; that
is it has 1.-The making" of one as an Irish
man would put it. The company is or
gained and has an armory, or thinks it
has. The company drills regularly, and
as soon as there is a vacancy in the Wis
cOnsin National guard it will enter the
states service a thoroughly drilled body
of soldiers.
Capt. G. j. ROLLS, who is an ex-as-
semblyman and a man well known in
Southern Wisconsin, is captain of the
company and principal promoter of the
Il
subscription, the city donating the lot.
Many of the subscribers failed to pay
up, ands most of the burden fell on ex
Mayor Sheldrup. In view of this the
common council has agreed to give him
a ifteen-year lease, the city to have the
use of the building for council meetings,
conventions, etc, Sheldrup to have the
privilege of renting the place when the
city does not need it. The ordinance
has not been passed but it was under
stood that Sheldrup could go ahead.
Rented to the Universalists.
Mr.. Sheldrup early in the week leased
the armory to the Uniyersalist society
for n coffee and ball to be given last
night. Capt. ROLLS disputed Sheldrup's
right to lease the hall and declared that
he would have his company drill that
night. The first clash came yesterday
morning, when Capt. ROLLS and some of
his soldiers. it is alleged. went to the
armory and put padlocks on the doors.
Reaching the conclusion that couple of
padlOcks would not bar so determined a
man as Sheldrup. he and his men took a
stand just inside the main entrance,
equipped with muskets and prepared to
hold the fort
Sheldrup was just as determined to get
in, and secure the building for the ladies
to whom he had leased it. and after con-
siderable effort he looSened 2 board near
a window, slipped the catch, and crawled
in. Then, according to the charge made
by Sheldrup, Capt. ROLLS drew a revolver
and, pointing it at Sheldrup's head. told
him that if he did not get out he would
shoot him dead in his tracks. Then the
truth of the old saying that dis
erection is the better part of valor"
came home to him. and he with
drew by the same route by which he en-
tered. His next step was to secure
81. - 4IN.N
charge of threatening to kill him. and the
warrant was quickly served. Rolls went
with the officer, but left his soldiers on
guard with instructions to let no one
enter the armory. He pleaded not guilty
to the charge, and the trial was put over
till Monday. Meantime Mr.. Sheldrup
and his friends succeeded in securing pos
session of the building.
Climax Came at Night.
The hall was welI-flled, the days fra
cas- serving to fully advertise the church
function. Just as the people were set
Ting down to solid enjoyment an I'M
hidden guest came in the person of Capt.
POLLS. He was in martial array and
with dignity ordered the hall cleared.
There was heated argument, which
wound up by City Marshal Erdahl being
asked to put the captain under arrest on
a charge of disturbing the public peace.
The doughty warrior stood by his col
ors and resisted. Being close pressed,
he drew his sword, it is alleged, and be-
gan a series of evolutions which re-
sembled the operations of a windmill.
During the melee Marshal Erdahl was
cut across the face. Constable Sax HOY
erson was slashed across the wrist and
Mayor O. X Roe was hacked on the
head. ROLLS was finally overpowered
and disarmed. He was arrested and
taken to the lookup but did not have to
stay in the dungeon long. for Otto Sea-
borg came to his relief with a bail bond.
What turn the matter will now take
is subject of speculation today. public
opinion being divided on the merits of
the controversy, The injuries sustained
by the city officers were not very Sc
we're, but the cuts have not served to
put them in very good humor, and il
ROLLS makes another attempt to get pos
session of the hall he can count on hay
ing to put up a pretty stiff fight.