Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-11-08
RIOT IN SOUTH WILMINGTON.
Negroes became Impatient and Cleaned
Out the Election Booth in the Third Dis
trict

~ |
started in South Wilmington and before
1t was quelled James A. Dugan, the
inspector, who is q Democrat; Police
man Andrew j. Sherry, James T.. Mo
Hugh, Henry Macy, colored, ard
several other people were hurt
Dugan's injuries are pretty painful,
| but it is believed they are not serious
| He was knocked down and kicked all
over the body and face. Officer Sherry
and Mr. MoHugh were struck in the
face. Sherry had his chin cut pretty
badly and McHughs face was cut.
His ncse was injured and probably
broken. After the trouble Dugan was
| taken to the residence Of Patrick
Finerty, No. 406 Head street, across
the street from the polling place. and
DIR. Ii. II. Spruanoe VAS summoned.
Officer Sherry ard MoIIugh had their
wounds dressed at Allaband's phar.
macy. 1t could not be learned how |
\ badly Macy was hurt.
! Monday night Joshua Pyle. the in
spector, resigned, and the Election
Board substituted james A. Dugan,
who was . judge, and arrointed Wiz
liam Biggins judge in place of Dugan.
Accordingly, when the polls were opened
Tuesday morning Dugan was in charge.
A large proportion of the men regis
, tered In the district are negroes and
| about $50 Of them were on hand early
and lined up prepared to vote as soon
as the polls should open. They had
preceded tho white men and about 100
of them were on hand for the first op-
Y portunities to vote. The polls were
Q late in opening, it being about 9.25
r o'clock when the work of swearing in
the officers was completed and they
were ready for the first vote. Inspector
Duean had Just voted when the negroes
outside noticed James L. Mcllugh
@ make his way inside to vote They
! were incensed and egged on by some
. white men made rush for tho booth,
:. declaring that they would clean il out
u and throw the election officers into the
70 street. They accomplished their pur-
o peso and as Inspector Dugan was he
ing thrown cut Officer Sherry ran 10
his assistance, and while the officer was
protecting him he the ofiicer) was as
saultsd. Sherry said his arms were
D. being hold by people on both sides of
to him. Sergeant Tucker and Patrolmnr
at Brown and Moran ran to his assistan e
or and order was SO N restored. When the
npgroes entered the booth they set uron
T. MeHugh as we'll aa Dugan and banded
MS HIM pretty roughly. In the meleo the
of books and some other paraphernalie
II disappeared, and at noon they wert
be still missing.
The matter was Immediately brought
- to the attention OF the Department o.
Vi Elections, and after an investigation
it was decided, at noon, to reopen thu
IT. polls IL proper police protection coult
cu be guaranteed. Prior to that tint
ma there had been no voting. except tn
q. one ballot cast by Inspector Dugan a
y the opening.
as No arrests were made, but it wa
in stated that warrants would be sworl
ler out and tho assailants would BIO prose
IAN cuted.
~ Inspector Dupan, who was seen afte
the trouble, made the following state
zoe ment to q reporter of The Gazette
ng, 1--WE had just perfected arrangement
on for opening when the negroes made
8. Z rush for the room, with threats tina
they wero going TO throw the electio
.,o offers out. They tore down the votin
"'o places and assaulted us and jostled u
ons out John Macy was the first ma
of who assaulted ME. ] was afterward as
nd, saulted by John Goodwin, white mar
nj, and several others set upon mo and
49,, was kicked by negro named WilliaI
shy johnson and several others. If it ha
Iese not been for Officer Sherry | woul
and probably have been killed. A negl
.. named Thompson and white mon name
Cook and Lewis were doing grei
deal OF talking outside. and it soundt
to me as If they. were urging Il
.,, negroes on. / could hear voices tellir
them to throw us out into the street.
we'd Several other eye witnesses maj
= ~ similar statements. One man told u
had reporter that he heard one negro So
for I've have the muscle power to contr
4 On this election and We are going 10
,inl it, and Immediately afterward Il
,rie. rush on the booth was made. Some
,o,d the negroes had clubs, but aa a ri
cnt those who were in the fight used thu
!. fists. Dugan said be tod them VIII
and the nTst man entereu tney Wou
IN, Strengthened out the vote of every m
nrn. would be received.
hold A Republican said the trouble
men due to the fact that the opening of I
the polls was delayed and tho negroes
OF a came impatient. After the fight I
Hay. crowd remained about awaiting {
! the velopments Some had clubs and W,
rose making threats, but the police SOU
solid had been increased and further trou
come during the morning was ayerted.
ooms Members OF the Department OF El
,pen- tions, accompanied by Democratic st
,atis- Chairman Willard SALISBURY, eter
tings Ford, John Biggs, John u: Gray 2
ms ut james w. PONDER, went TO soatI
, and mington ut 1.30 o'clock and helt
rites. conference with parties interested
n. the Liberty engine house, after VIII
the announcement was made that
}. polls would be opened during the aft
noon. The balotbox, which had dis
~ an peared, had been found in another p
lae ! of the house, where it had been pla
'W m for safe keeping. H. ii. Ward and Il
IN; ins Knowles went over early in the AFT
noon. -w.M
'lsion Up to o'clock there was no trou
- .he in the Fourth district, the other {
~ ~ trict of South Wilmingto on, and the ,
!. r .h ing was going along quietly there. Q
Shts about four negroes are registered
~ " that district.
u ~ At2 o'clock in the afternoon arrar
.ho ments were made for reopening
a"are polls, with James L. McHugh, Ja
A. Dugan and Henry Hennls as
99Wlne election board and ]. Harvey Whittier
, iunn and John 2. Nields as board of a
iasion tration TO determine any questi
~ ior which might arise. 1t was proposes
y. have two lines of voters, one Of W
oto' men and the other of negroes.
,,,, 1t was 2. 10 u'ooak when the vot
Ia.