Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-03
THE CHIEF STRIKES
Collision in Rock Island Police
Station This Morn
ing.
THE AFFAIR CAUSES EXCITEMENT
Sam Arndt, Well known Business
Man, Has Tilt With
Official.

\ rather unusual and sensational
scene was that witnessed in the Rock
Island police station this morning
when Chief of Police Dennis McCar-
thy became so enraged by a we'll
known citizen, Sam Arndt, the Second
avenue cigar store proprietor, that
he struck his provocator a blow with
his open hand which resulted in the
latter's ignominious fall from his
chair to the floor with resounding
CHATTER that startled the company of
officers and reporters who happened
to be present at the time.
The Cause of the Trouble.
The affair is the climax to. the ar
rest of two colored girls last night
by the chief for fast driving. One of
the girls is employed as a domestic at
the Arndt home and Mr.. Arndt was con-
siderably worked up over her arrest.
He states that the horse was running
away with the girls and that they
could not help themselves. The ar
rest took place late yesterday after
noon. The horse was coming down
Third avenue at Il very high rate of
speed and in the judgment of the
chief it was simply case of fast
driving and he acted accordingly.
The girls were taken to the station,
where they told their side of the
story. They were allowed to leave
early in the evening and no charge
was preferred against them, further
than that they were required to give
an appearance bond pending investi-
CATION.
Thought Chief Was Wrong.
Mr.. Arndt, who says that
the girl employed by him is
not given to running about
with fast or indiscreet colored peo-
morning to see what was to be done
by the department in regard to the
case. There was evidently some mis-
understanding between the chief and
Arndt, for the temperature of the
discussion between the two rapidly
approached the boiling point and an
uncomplimentary remark on the part
of the citizen, which the chief con
strued to be a reflection on his char
acter as an officer, reused him to
degree at which his hot Celtic blood
forced him to act and he arose and
'smote nightly" Mr.. Arndt was
seated in n chair at the time and the
stiff swing of the chiefs right arm
and open hand caught him fair in the
cheek. He lost his balance and man
and chair toppled over.
Arndt is Indignant
Mr.. Arndt was angered to white heat
by the blow received and would have
answered back in kind if it had not
been for the bystanders. He went
out to look for Mayor Knox. He,
came back with AttorneN L. Il. Rey-
nOlds shortly after, the latter having
been retained to look after the inter
ests of the girls. The case against
the girls was dismissed for want of
prosecution. Mr.. Arndt talks of having
a warrant sworn out against the
chief for assault and battery.
DamseI In Trouble.
Gladys Green, fair, but sOphisticat-
ed, was picked up near the viaduct
shortly before o'clock yesterday af-
ternoon in a state of glorious bewild-
erment, as the result of a prolonged
session with barroom concoctions.
She was placed in the patrol and TAX
en- to the station. On the arrival she
had fairly to be torn from the wagon,
as she didn't want TO be put in
there" Once inside the door she
broke loose with n volley of high
pitched screaming that outdid all
memories of bowling Dervishes and
Sioux scalp hunters any of the audi
tors may have heard. When she had
finished her voice, she laid down on
her back and beat a tattoo on the
floor with her heels. She had to be
dragged almost unconscious into the
cell. This morning. with great dir
ziness under her peroxide locks, she
was brought before the magistrate
and fined $40 and costs, $24.15 in all.
She landed in Davenport about
week ago, and yesterday afternoon
ventured across the bridge with a
male companion. He. was lost in the
shuttle, and she wound up in
saloon. from which she was eject
ed when the liquor she had consumed
bested the gray matter and was max
ing her fighty.