Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-19
A SLIGHT CLASH
Between Mayor and Police OF
Bridgeport, CT.
Mayor Feels Hurt, but the Police
Will Now Handle Strike.
No Disturbance, Monday-No Cars Run
After Dark.

Bridgeport, Conn, May 1S.-With
very few exceptions the running OF
trolley cars on the lines fthe Connectl-
cut Railway and Lighting 90. manned
by non-union motormen and conduct
ors, were not interfered with, today
There were IS men and boys locked up
during the day on charges OF lntlmlda l.
tion. The majority of the prisoners
were using offensive language to the
strike breakers at the time OF their ar
rest. The men We're placed under $1,000
bonds each and the boys We're Obliged
to furnish a 5000 bond.
y trolley car, manned by non-union
men and guarded by two deputy sher-
IFS was fired upon by Il man on the
west side. this afternoon. No damage
was done and the man escaped after Il
long chase by the officers
Despite the apparent quiet which Is
prevailing over the city, tonight, the
day was not without it's sensational in
cidents. The most important feature of
the day was the action taken at meet
ing of the police commissioners at
which some of the most prominent cit
liens participated. This meeting was
called because of differences of opinion
between Mayor Mulvihill and the police
commissioners as to the disposition of
the police department during the pres
ent trouble
Mayor MuiVihill presided at the meet
ing. Early in the session he evaded
questions which were put to him by
gentlemen present and his bearing
0Vnrtn11lU resulted n he,,
being made in which the mayor was di-
rectly accused of doing more to incite
riot, yesterday, than all other causes
combined.
This the mayor strongly denied, but
before the meeting was over he agreed
that hereafter during the strike he
would not interfere with any action
taken by the police commissioners in
conducting the police department.
Promptly at o'clock, tonight, every
car was sent to the car barns. 1t is
probable that this policy will be fol-
lowed for at least a week, neither the
trolley officials nor the strike breakers
desiring to risk an outbreak after dark
During the afternoon, teamsters de-
layed the passage of trolley cars as
much as possible by driving slowly
upon the tracks in front of cars. Two
drivers We're arrested for this offence
One man was arrested for yelling of
fensive names at the non-union men.
He submitted to the arrest until he was
put in an open car, when he dashed
away and made his escape down Car
non street.
Tonight at O'clock there were fully
1900 people gathered about the car
barns on Rarnum avenue where the
non-union men are quartered. Lieut.
Redgate, fearing that violence might
break out in such a large gathering
called six policemen and dispersed the
crowd.
Orders were issued to Supt. of Police
birmingham by the police commissions
ers. tonight, to instruct the patrOlmen
of the department in the use of riot
guns which were purchased some time
ago and which are stored at headquar-
tiers. This action is taken to mean that
the police department will act fearless
ly in case of another outbreak
Mayor Mulvihill, tonight expressed
himself as very angry because of the
treatment accorded him, today, at the
meeting of the police commissioners
He said 1T seems as if | was on trial
| knew nothing of the conference until
| reached there. l supposed that it was
q regular meeting of the police board
and was surprised to find men thera
who were, apparently, there in the in
terCst of the Trolley Co. to humilate
me and to put me in 4 false position
before the public. | will yet clear my
self. | nave witnesses to prove that /
did not interfere. yesterday, with any
officer in the performance of his duty
/ did not order any policeman to re-
frain from assisting deputy sheriffs nor
did | do anything, as | am charged
with doing to encourage rioters The
fact is that anything that l would have
done or might have done would have
displeased my critics. / might have re-
manned at home. Then | would be call
ed a coward. AS it was, | risked my
lift. in fact, was struck by a stone in
an effort to quell disorder.
Il still maintain that the responsible
ity for yesterdays disturbance must
rest with the Trolley Co. Why didn't
they start their cars, Saturday? They
ought to have known better than to
start them on Sunday, when the streets
We're full of people. There were 1000 peo-
pie in that crowd and the whole New
York police department could not dis
perse it,
President Henry d. Beach of the po-
lice commission, said, tonight: 1--WE
know now what to do We found, yes
terday. that there was conflict of au-
thority between ourselves and the may
or. We found that the chief of po-
lice could not determine whether to
obey us or the mayor"