The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-08-06
Citizens of BrookIand
Aroused by a Fierce
Conflict.
R0vERS THEN DISAPPEAR
Leave Injured Man Behind, After Tying
His Horse to Tree NeaTby-POiiceman
Stroman Investigates and Secures
Details of the Trouble

The old Glenwood Road was the scene
of excitement shortly after 3 O'Clock
last night when fight broke out in
band Of gypsies who have been en-
camped near the old wine house on that
road for some months past For almost
an hour the woods rang with cries OF
murder and police and the fighters.
as they rained blow after blow upon
each other. were observed by passen-
gers on the electric railway en- route 20
BTookland.
After the fight had come to an end, the
band hurriedIy packed up their belong
ings and were soon driving madly up the
deserted road IN the direction OF
Brigktwood. leaving behind them one of
their number, James Smith, who was
painfully cut about the face and hands.
Policeman Goes 10 Scene.
In the meantime the passengers on the
electric cars had informed Policeman
Stroman, at Brookland. He Immediate
y boarded a car and went TO the scene
OF the disturbance. Upon arriving at the
gypsy encampment, however, he found
nothing left but q few smoldering fires
He thea discovered Smith, who lay on
the grass crying as though in great pain
Upon questioning him the policeman
learned that the fight grew out Of the
fact that Smith had come into the camp
in IN intoxicated con0tion, and had be-
cone involved in a quarrel with another
member Of the band. whose name. he
said, was Archie Lowell. The argument
betweea the two had become so heated
that blows we're struck, ne said, and in
a few minutes both fighters were rolling
on The ground
Smith claimed that Lowell, during the
progress of the fstic combat seized a
heavy piece Of wood and struck him II
the face, tearing the skin badly and
covering him with blood. The fighting
then became general, the friends Of the
combatanJs lining up against each other
In few minutes the camp presented an
animated appearance, the men fighters
being distinctly seen by citizens as
they wrestled and '-slugge1' before the
camp fires. Now and then, when IN IN
usually clever blow had been inflicted
by one side or another, TIE female eIe-
meut would rejoice IN loud cries, their
voices being heard for almost a mile
through the woods
Band Moves Away Hurriedly-
Gradually. however. the combatants
tired, and. fearing that the police would
shortly be upon them, deemed 1t best
10 Ie.ve the place Accordingly, tents
were quickly struck, and all the lug
gage packed in wagons. The horses
which had been left in the woods 10
Craze, we're started after. It required
some little time 70 secure them as the
animals, frightened by the cries from
the camp during The fight, had scattered
into the woods. They were finally Sc
cured, however, and, hitched up. gaIIoped
from the woods on 20 the road, and
struck lively gait IN the direction OF
BTightgood
The only person left behind was
Smith, whose face and clothing were
marked with bIoodstains- Before Ieav-
ing him the gypsy leaders tied beside
him his horse. but left nothing else Of
his property.
The Injured Mans Story.
He explained as well as he could 70
Policeman Stroman the cause Of the
trouble. II had been the desire Of Ger
tain members Of the band, be said, to
make him leave the camp, but that he
and his friends objected TO such action
and the fight ensued. He was extremely
DESTROYS Of securing a warrant for his
assaila1t, but Policeman Stroman in
formed him that under the circum-
Stances nothing could be done, as IN all
probability his assaiIants we're then
well On their way outside Of the District
line.
With the assistance Of the policeman
Smith Eashed the blood from his face
and clotSzs- He then mounted his
horse, threatening dire vengeance upon
the heads OF his enemies, and galloped
IN the direction taken by the main body.
The citizens Of BrookIand heaved a
sigh OF relief when they heard Of the
bands departure. II is said that for
some time past the band. which arrived
here about three months ago, INDUCED
IN brawls almost nightly and was a ter
rror TO citizens who sometimes walked
or drove past their encampInent.