The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-03
HISTORY OF THE POSSE.
Its Organization and Effect
Washington Avenue Riot.

Probably the most unique feature devel-
oped by the great strike was the posse
comitatus Never before in the history OF
this country has SO large a body of promi-
nent men been called from their business
pursuits to shoulder shotguns and patrol
the streets Of their city for the preserTa-
ton of law and order. II was the scts OF
mob violence enacted throughout the city
which caused the authorities to summon
posse.
With but few exceptions all those who
were called replied to their summonses
with alacrity- Lawyers. capitalists. doctors,
every walk OF life were represented in the
ranks. In spite Of the fac, that but few OF
the recruits had ever had an hours mill.
tary training. the natural soldierly spirit or
Americans asserted itself, and within a
very few days after being mustered In the
various companies displayed order and dis
cipline which would have done credit 10
trained bards of soldiers
The posse comitatus was ORGANIZED Dy
Sheriff J; Il. Pohlman at the order OF a the
ditionai men were ordered. which brought
c re s were M mustered in on May 81. ON that
day lio deputies were sworn in. line au.
thority to call out posse OF citizens IN
case OF emergency IL vested In the Board
of Police Commissioners by article 10 Of the
Revised Statutes Of 1883.
AT consultation of officers Of the Police
sheriff Pohlrnan il was decided to arm the
deputies with Winchester riot snotsuns'
which would shoot a she'll loaded with buck
shot The moral effect Of these formidaoie
weapons was great, and the sight OF them
alone did much to intimfdate the iawiess
element which had beeen committing dep
Lieutenant Colonel ]. II. Lavender was
appointed Colonel Of the posse by Sherifi
Pohlman. He chose as his stan, Generai
Farrar Colonel Edwin Batdorf. W. Ia Fisse.
William Freudenau. Lester NJ. Hall: Z. e.
Rowse. W. p. Kenneth. George b. Webster.
Perry BartholOw. All OF these men We're
sworn in as officers and appointed to diner.
ent companies. After the organization OF
companies they were distributed about the
city in barracks and at the different car
sheds Of the transit company.
From the start. posse members had the
respect of the lawabiding element OF the
city. They were all determined to carry
out their instructions. Positive orders were
issued by the Sheriff 20 put down lawless-
ness at any cost. and II was generally
understood that the men would do so. Con-
Steering the fact that many OF the men were
unaccustomed TO the use OF firearms. acci-
dents and unwarranted shooting were ex-
ceptionally small.
The pay Of each deputy was two dollars
per day, for which each received warrant
at the time the posse was mustered out.
Inc st: Louis banks nave asreed 10 cash
commenced the early part Of last week, and
the last company was released on Saturday.
posse was the shooting of thres strikers on
Sunday. June IL large number Of strik
ers attended a picnic in East ST. Louis on
that day. On their way home they marched
in n body before the posse barracks at
Sixth and Washington avenue. A riot en-
sued and possemen rushed from the build
ing armed with shotguns. In the fight E.
Edward Thomas and George Rine and Ed
Burkhsrdt all striking transit employees.
We're shot TO death. and several others
wounded.
on the same day, Fred Bohne. an old
man. was shot by a posseman In the front
yard OF his home. No. I124 North Tenth
street. There were a number of lesser
shootings by possemen, but under the exist
ing circumstances the general work done
by the posse eomitatus was considered by
police experts to have been excellent.