The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-07-11
coLoRED MAN THREW IT AND
HIT BOY in THE HEAD.
FATHER STRUCK THE NEGRO
Deputy Sheriff Kept Enraged Parent
at Bay With Revolver While Pc.
lice Took Coon to Jail,

mann, 3 years old, Is at st. Joseph's
hospital with his skull fractured.
He was struck in the back of the
head by the handle Of a pick ak, hurl-
ed by John Sparks, an asphalt pave
ment negro.
The affair occurred at Seventh and
Locust streets at 8 o'clock this morn
ing. s
J. G.. Neimann, the boys father,
made N attempt to kill the negro, but
was held at bay by a revolver in the
hands of Deputy Sheriff Geo. Kroeger,
who happened to witness the assault,
while Sparks was being taken away
by Police Officer Tom Calvin.
Two hours after the assault the faith
er visited the Jail. The jailers did not
know him, and permitted him to en-
ter. He asked tc, see Sparks, and when
shown the cell he made an attempt
to get at him through the bars. Sparks,
who had come to the front of the cell,
jumped away in time to escape being
caught by the enraged father without.
The rage of the father is unrestrain-
able, and Sparks, the negro, is in fear
that he will be molested in the Jail.
Two deputies resorted to force to
draw Niemann away from the cell.
Sparks covered in an opposite corner
as Niemann was forced away, calling
out curses and threats at the top of
his voice.
Niemann's anger arose to it's high
est pitch Immediately after he had
been informed by DR.. Plondke that
Freddie's condition was a question of
life or death.
j. G. Niemann is a grocer at the
corner of Arcade and Minnehaha
streets. He had taken his 8-year-old
son to market early in the morning,
and was driving homeward along East
Seventh street. s.@.'.
The repair crews of the Western
Paving & Supply company are engag-
ed on the East Seventh street pave
ment, between Locust street and the
bridge.
When Niemann reached the Locust
street square, Sparks, the negro, who
had been stationed as a Waterman to
warn vehicles off the pavement, grasp
ed the bride of Niemann's horse.
The accounts of Niemann and of
Sparks differ at this point, but Me
mann agreed not to go down Seventh
street. Some words followed, how
ever, between the two men, and
Sparks was struck a blow with Me
mann's buggy whip across the face.
Niemann whipped up his horse. The
negro picked himself UP from the
pavement, where he had fallen, and
hurled the handle of a pickax at the
rig.
1t struck the boy in the back of the
head, and he fell forward unconscious,
his father catching the limp form just
in time to keep it from falling under
the wagon.
Deputy Sheriff Kroeger, who was on
his way from his home to the court
house, witnessed both assaults.
He made a rush toward the negro.
Niemann, in the meantime, had Jump
ed from his seat and won the race
to where the colored man stood. He
made a vicious grab at Sparks and
caught him by the throat. The dep
uty came up in time to save him from
being choked to death. He pulled
Niemann away, and, after calling at
the top Of his voice, for a policment,
he drew his revolver on Niemann,
threatening to shoot if he made an adj
vance toward the colored man. In
spite of this the enraged father made
several violent lunges towards Sparks,
but was pushed aside by the deputy.
Officer Tom Calvin ran to the scene
and placed the negro under arrest.
He took him to the box at Broadway,
while Kroeger stood guard over Me
mann. With the negro out of sight
the fathers anger subsidized, and he
turned his attention to the little boy,
who was stretched out in the wagon
box.
The ambulance of st. Jeseph's hos
pltal was summoned. At the hos
pital DR.. Plondke made a hasty ex-
animation of The boys injuries and
pronounced his condition serious.
Immediately after the father had
been Informed of the gravity of the
boys state he left the ward and paid
his, visit of vengeance of the county
Jail.
Sparks was arraigned in police court
a charge of assault with a danger
GUS weapon. The case was continued
to allow the filing of a complaint and