The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-06-26
"A HOT TIME" ON ELM PLACE.
Four Colored Women Hold the Fort
Against officers of the Law,
But Finally Succumb.
From the Baltimore sun of "Wednesday

From the Baltimore sun of Wednesday.
Elm Place is small court north of Biddlt
street. between Little Pine street and Myrtle
avenue. No. 926 was until yesterday occu
pied by Sarah Collins, her daughters Blanche
and ESelle, Mary Ellen Coleman and four OF
FIVE infants, all cOlored.
They we're considered undesirable tenants
and the owner of the house, Mr.. Charles H.
Fulton. desired to get rid of them. Al
peaceable means having failed, Mr.. Fulton,
after due legal process, secured writ OF eject,
ment before Justice Thomas {. Bailey, and
it was given to constable John j. Carroll to
serve.
This was the beginning of the most exert
ing experience in Constable Carroll lie.
Taking his assistant John Schweinsberg, he
went to the house about O'Clock Yesterday
morning to dispossess the tenants. The door
was locked and an animated counsel of wal
was going ON inside. Mr.. Carroll demanded
admission in the name of the law, but he and
the law were told to emigrate to some Flu
tonian shore The officers then burst III the
door.
Each of the four women held an infant in
her arms. One fourshed an axe. another Il
plate, the third poker and the fourth a
stove LITTER and all threatened to kill the eitl-
GERS. The latter were forced into the street
and the door was again locked. 1t was once
more broken open, and as Carroll and Sch
weinsberg rushed in they were met by volley
of plates and stOve-lifters. One OF the women
aimed IA vicious blow at Constable Carroll
with some iron weapon, but missed HIM and
struck Sarah Collins, inficting deep cash on
her forehead.
Three times the officers broka in the door
and each time were they forced out before a
storm of all kinds of missiles. By this time
an excited crowd of three or four hundred
colored people had gathered about the place
and IL tumult ensued. Several bricks were
thrown aud all kinds of threats and curses
were hurled at the conStablcS.
Patrolman Siebold arrived upon the scene,
hut his presence only increased the excite
ncnt. Word was sent to the northwestern
police station and Ser eauts Glynn and Brown
and Patrolmcn Candy and Welsh hurried t.
Elm Place. The women in the besleged
house had again barricadcd the door ana were
shouting defiance to the invaders and Justify
singing "Therc'S a hot time in West Baltl
mere today.
Constable Carroll, assisted by Sergcants
Glynm and Brown, once more broke open the
door. while the patroImrn held the crowd i'll
check. When the four women in the house
saw that the invading army had been rein
forced they became desperate and wild with
rage and fought like turicS. Chairs. lockers.
stove-lidS and cvcrvthing they could get lhciI
hands upon wrrt. hurled at the officers. One
aimed IA blow at Sergeant Glynm with Il lamp
and another picked up Il cOaloil stove and
hurled it at Constable Carroll and then tried
to bite him. All this time the women were
pouring out torrents of profanity and abuse
and yelling like Indians, while the uprOar was
increased by the frightened screams of the
children.
One of the women, who fought with the
utmost ferocity, held three children i'll hel
arms but did not seem to be lncommoded by
them. The Others during most of the battle
held one or two infants each, and this placed
the officers at "A disadvantage, because they
were afraid Of injuring the babies.
Finally the Coleman woman collapsed in Il
fit and was carried outside. The policemen
then made Il rush and captured the Others
who were dragged. screaming and fighting
to the patrol wagon.
The crowd outside, which had been noisy
and threatening all during the battle, became
more excited by the arrests and small RIO
cnSucd. Some of those in the crowd began
to throw bricks and only dessted when Ser
geant Glynn drew his revolver and threatened
To shoot the first one who repeated the act.
At the station the four warlike wOmel
asked Il jury trial aud were held for court by
Justice Wood, whereupon Mary Ellen Cole
man fell in another fit. During and after the
hearing the station was crowded with residents
of Elm Place, principally colored girls, who
| came as voluntary witnesses.
The policemen state that the affair was thu
| most exciting in which they ever engaged
The Coleman woman was so much over
come bv her efforts and successive fits tina
she had to be taken to the Maryland Genera
| Hospital, where she lay unconscious nearly al
the afternoon The other women went 10 iai
| in default of bail.