The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-09
MURDER STAGE
IS REACHED
Street Car Strike in Water
bury, Conn.,, Brings Tragedy.
Masked Men Board a Car and
Fire a YOIley.
POLICEMAN Is KILLED.
Conductor and Motorman Both
Wounded.
The Union Denounces the Action
of the Assassins.
'OLICEMAN is KILLED.

Waterbury, Conn.,, March Sine
search for the murderer of Policeman
Paul Mendlesohn, who was slain by one
Of the shots fired by a party of masked
men in their attack upon a trolley car
last evening, was renewed today after a
posse had spent most of the night scour-
ing the region about Forest park. AS
far as known the detectives have not
secured any clew. It is believed that
Conductor Weberndorfer and Motorman
Chambers, both of whom were wounded
in the attack upon their car. will be able
to resume work shortly.
Excitement runs high over the killing
which is regarded as the climax of the
disturbances which have accompanied
the strike of the street railway men.
Early today leaders of the strike gave
out interviews IN which they declared
that the union would offer reward for
information leading to the detection Of
the men concerned in last nights vio-
Ience.
Violence in its worst form broke out
anew last night in Waterbury as a re-
suit Of the high feeling in connection
with the strike Of the motormen and
conductors of the Connecticut Railroad
& Lighting company. This time it is
murder, and Policeman Paul Mendle-
SOAA1t - AiAC NASb4AA4r SVAAlk w NA4rAAAbIArl
non-union motorman, was shot and
his conductor, George Weberndorfer.
was pounded almost into insensibility.
The scene of the crime was at Forest
park. the terminus of the North Main
street line The spot is isolated and
when the car reached the end Of the
line the crew made preparations for
the return trip. Immediately after the
conductor turned the trolley and the
HE
masked men sprang from the bushes
/ by the roadside. entered the car and
| discharged their rev0lVers. every man
being armed. Officer Mendlesohn fell
at the first report and as a later ex-
animation showed, the first shot was
fatal, having pierced his heart. The
| motOrman was also hit and leaped
from his car with a cry of pain Some
of the men followed him while the re-
mainder turned their attention to the
i conductor He was thrown to the floor
of the car and pounded and kicked un-
til he was almost unconscious The
men then left him and Joined their COM
panions outside. From this point in
the attack their actions are wrapped
in mystery and are causing consider
able apprehension. Webernorfer saw
his mot0rman leap from the car when
he was shot and he also saw him
| followed by the murderers- Whether
he escaped or whether he was carried
off by the attacking party he could not
tell
The conductor regained his feet with
difficulty and went to the side Of the
wounded officer, but he saw that the
officer was dead. Weberndorfer. hardly
able to stand, went to the controller and
started the car back toward the city
with the dead officer. On the way he
met another car, the crew of which re-
lieved the injured man and hurried to
the city for assistance.
The body of the dead officer was car
ried into police headquarters and Web
erndorfer was also taken there An
alarm was sent around the city by the
police, and in a few moments the en-
tire detective department was on the
scene of the murder.
The car, when it reached the city.
showed that there had been a volley o.
shots fired at the defenseless men. The
shots having been fred when the trolley
pole was off, the three men were IN
perfect darkness and were caught like
rats in a trap.
At the time Of the shooting the stree Is
were practically deserted because Of the
heavy downpour Of rain. which had been
falling all evening, but the news spread
about the city like wildfire, and half an
hour after the car carrying its victim
had reached the center of the city there
were at least 800 persons in the vicinity
Of police headquarters. where the bods
Z / Ena