The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-18
MOB AFTER OFFICER
PATROLMAN DYER AND HIS
FRIENDS IN MINORITY.
TROUBLE IN EMMETT PARK
OPPOSITION FORCES WANTED RE
VENICE FOR OVERS CONDUCT.

Was Active mt the Polls Friday and
Incurred Enmity-Wns Assaulted
Saturday Night by Man Named
sailant ON the Eastside-Re-
leased His Prisoner and a General
Fight Started Moment Later.
Lost His Club and Hat and Held
Crowd Back with RevoIvcr-BacLx-
ed to GameyveII Box and TeIephOn-
ed Headquarters for Squad of Men.
Policeman G. W. Dyer came very near
being a mob's victim on Bay street. near
East Broad, at l O'clock yesterday
afternoon. The prompt arrival of the
patrol wagon filled with patrolmen and
detectives was all that saved him. Dyer
was not on duty Friday and was a worker
during the election at the court house.
He had innumerable scraps and of course
incurred the enmity of a large number
of people. During the day Dyer injured
his right hand badly and it has been use
less since that rather lively occasion.
Dyer said that Saturday night a man
named Rossiter struck him in the right
eye and he made up his mind to place his
assailant under arrest as soon as he saw
him. Yesterday morning he went on duty
with black optic and took up his di-
vision on Bay street. He anticipated
trouble with some of the residents of the
Eastside, with whom he had fought at the
polls, and felt a little nervous because of
the condition of his hand.
Early in the afternoon Dyer saw Ros-
sitter in Emmett Park and placed him I'M
der arrest on a charge of assault and bat
terry. The patrolman said he was re-
quested by his brother to let Rossiter so,
and he decided to let the matter drop.
The trouble began a moment later. and
no one seems to know who struck The
first blow. Dyer's brother and several
friends were on hand, and a general fight
was started, with the officer as the par
ticular punching bag. He could not use
his hand, and in an effort to pull his club
lost that weapon. His helmet, too, was
sent across the park, and the officer was
in a dangerous position. He managed to
get away from the crowd, which appeared
to be steadily increasing, and took his
revolver from its holster.
Leveling the weapon at the thoroughly
aroused crowd, Dyer held the mob at
hay and backed to the Gamewell box at
East Broad and Bay streets. With his
injured hand he opened the box and tele-
phoned to police headquarters for squad
CT men to quell the disturbance In the
mean time the fight was going on be-
tween Dyer's friends and allies and the
opposition crowd, who appeared to be in
the majority. Babe Dyer brother of
the, patrolman, and himself a member
of the police department, received a stun
ming blow, in the head and was bleeding
freely when a wagon load of officers ar
rived on the scene.
The patrol horses were moving. at
lively gait with the officers of the law,
and the crowd scattered. The arrival of
reinforcements put an end to the fight,
and order was promptly restored. De-
tective Wall found one of Dyer's friends
with the club, and the helmet was picked
up in the middle of Bay street. 1t was
then time for the patrolman to leave his
division, and he was taken to police head
quarters by his brother officers Sew
eral hundred people had gathered on the
scene, and but for the prompt arrival of
the police there would have been serious
trouble. Dyer stated at headquarters
that once or twice during the fight he
came near having to use his revolver
The Ratrolmen who reached Dyer re-
ported that several women took part in
the trouble, at least by urging the partici-
pants on, and had the row lasted a few
minutes longer would probably have been
actively engaged in hostilities. Some OF
them were heard to shout that
Dyer had gotten in his pugilistic work at
the polls and that he was only getting
what he deserved and what he had given
others on that occasion.
IL was stated at police headquarters
that no arrests would be made and that
no further trouble is anticipated. Off
Ger Dyer said that he had no charges
to enter against Rossiter, and nothing
more will grow out of the general fight
1t is quite probable that Dyer's division
will be at least temporarily changed from
the Eastside, although the patrolman
himself has made no such request The
Emmett Park fight was the topic OF con-
versation with the politicians