The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-15
PROBING FATAL FLOOD RIOT.
POLICE HOLD JOHN s. BRATTON
AND HIS EMPLOYEES.
Charge Him With Firing the Shot That
Killed YOUNG Hanlbley OF the Naval
Reserves-Dike Had Been Cut to Drain
DrattOn's Land in East St. Louis.

Dratton's Land in East st. Louis.
Sr. LOUIS, Mo, June l4.-John s. Bratton,
the principal figure in the riot in Ea st st.
Louis Saturday night, in which miltiamen,
naval reserves. special police officers and
citizens took part, is a prisoner of Chief
of Police Purdy tonight, having been
turned over to him by the militia Mr..
Dratton declared this evening that he had
no idea that there were any soldiers or
marines in the crowd that was approaching
upon him and his men when he fired his
weapon. On the contrary. he said, he
felt certain that it was mob coming to
cut the terminal dixie and he had the
authority to prevent It..
He deeply regretted the killing OF Clifford
Hambley OF the naval reserves. The
inquest over the body OF Hambley was
begun at o'clock this morning. 1t con-
adjourned until O'Clock tomorrow morn
ing, The body Of the dead ma val reserve
lay In room in plain view Of the jury,
guarded by detail from the naval re-
serves, MIR. Bratton did not listen to the
evidence but was nearby during the in
quest.
The, post mortem oyer y oung Hambley
revealed that he was killed by shot from
.4s-caibre revolver T he ball struck
him on the left side Of the neck and came
Particulars Of the rioting in which Ham
bley was killed arc difficult to obtain, the
reports being so conflicting. Over 100
shots were fired by miitiamen. naval re.
some met thirty or forty men, ' supposed r to be
in the employ of Bratton.
According to the most reliable informa-
ton ,obtainable about IL o'clock in thu.
evening word reached the central part OF
East St Louis that gang Of men in the
emDI0y OF BrattOn were engaged in cutting
the dixie at Second Belt road, at the inter-
section Of the Rock road An opening
here would relieve Bratton $ grounds,
which were submerged, and allow the
water to flow into dry lands in the central
section Of the city.
Ensign E. Warn of the Naval Reserves,
with five men. was detailed to visit the
Bratton place and prevent all attempts
Belt road the reserves encountered an
armed force Of forty or fifty men patroling
the property. The reserves we're ordered
to halt by this patrol,
They did so, but at that moment shot
rang out and Hambley fell dead, The ro-
serves seeing the superior force by which
they were confronted commenced to re-
treat. firing as they fell backward, their
fire being returned by the men patrolllng
Bratton's property. .,
When the naval reserves arrived at
police headquarters carrying the body of
their dead comrade. eighty militia men
were ordered to the scone. accompanied
by a score of police officers, special and
regulars As the soldiers advanced the
men patrolling Bratton's place fell back
and retreated into the house.
The militiamen forced their way in and
arrested every man they could find, some
camp. in the school building, where they
were held prisoners until this evening
when they were turned over to the chief
Of police An examination Of the en-
bankment showed that it had been cut
but the break was quickly repaired.
Young Hambley was the son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Samuel Hambey and was 81 years
Of age. He was employed as clerk by the
Fuerborn Notion Company.
John s. Bratton, who is charged with
having fred the fatal shot, is a member
of the firm OF Minis d Bratton, horse dealers,
at the National Stock Yards, East st. Louis
He Ia known throughout the United States
FER ms fine show horses r., Which ne mas h sx
Including that in Madison Square Garden.
New York.
OF late years. Bratton has maintained
the ans oher fsce
courses. He is known as a man OF quick
temper, and when angry does not hesitate
to express himself in the most violent
language Bratton is recognized as one
OF the leading citizens of East st. Louis
and has handsome home at 1925 Rock
road.
He ia a native Of Ireland and came to this
country about twenty years ago. after an
Ireland and England, During the Boer
war he made fortune buying mules for
the British Army
The stage Of water on the west side of
the Mississippi this evening was 80 4 feet,
a slight decline. At this rate of progress
II will take week to get the river back into
Its channel. The food sufferers in East
st. Louis, Venice. Madison and Granite
City are still in great need. food supplies
heing very scarce, while many are still
clothed in garments worn when the waters
invaded their homes. Their wants are
being supplied as rapidly as po ssible.
The Vondalia resumed tr ain service
to-day. The New York limit ed leaving
here ut 1890 o'clock crossed over on he
Eads bridge and ran through the water
up to the firebox until the engine got beyond
the food. This was the first train enabled
to Cross the Mississippi since last Tuesday.
The Baltimore and Ohio announces that
train service will be resumed over its tracks
tomorrow.