Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-30
MEN GET COUNSEL Attorney o'Neill Has Been Re. taincd and Was in Consultation With the Strikers This After noon-An Effort Was Be. ing Made During the
 Afternoon to Get
 Bondsmen.
Bondsn1en.

--HolHeF SenSaLlon In the trolley strike took place this forenoon about Il o'clock, when six of the strikers were arrested charged with assauIting with intent to murder the crew of a car on the WaterVille line on the night of February 26 The arrested strikers are Harry w. Warren, Clifford and Willis Vandemark, David O. Marsh, Edward B. Winneger and John J. Me Guire The men who were assaulted are William T. Merna and George Nor rissette. The arrests took place at the strikers regular morning meeting, which they have been holding since the strike was inaugurated. President Barrett was speaking to the men when the policemen entered the room, break ing up the meeting and creating the greatest alarm and excitement When the men for whom the police had war rants were arrested, President Barrett stated that if there were any more Of the men wanted they would unhesi- tatingly be handed over to the police. The police made reply, but marched Saway with their prisoners carefully Euarded. They went up Grand to Leavenworth street, down which Man ager Sewell happened to be driving at the time, and the moment he saw the procession he left his wagon and ac- companied the crowd to the station house.
 Early this morning there were ru- mors af1oat that, arrests connected with the strike had been made, but for what or who the arrested parties were no one could say. The slate at the police station contradicted these reports, there being no names Whatsoever on it. But still the reports continued to live, and as the forenoon grew apace they became more persistent.
 About 10:30 o'clock policemen began to gather at the station house in plain clothes, but as this has been nothing extraordinary since the night of the riot on January 31, no one paid much attention to it, But very soon 1t be- came apparent that the police had something on their hands, for as they tleft the station they scattered, but all managed to be in the near vicinity of the strikers headquarters about ii o'clock. When they finally made their descent on the strikers rooms about a dozen in plain clothes were in the squad, with Sergeant Pagan in charge. Everything in connection with the ar rests was done so quietly that very few were aware of what was happen ing.
 Tine assault in question took place te on the night of February 26. The
 aTas waiting on switch, on North
 Pw street, when a number of men
 S5ped down upon it and gave Nor Ssette and Merna terrible beating, slld finished with laying them on the |F Ftrack in front of the car. There they laid until the men in charge at the barn became anxious over the delay of the car and sent another ear out to bring 1t in. Both men were so badly beaten and hurt that they were confined at the hopital for some time Morrissette upon recovering decided he had had enough of trolley work here and quit the town. Merna, it Is thought, re mafned.
 Opinion was divided as to who did 1t. Some said it was the work ot some of the strikers; others held it was the work of friends of the trolley com pany, done for the purpose of pfovok ing sympathy for its side of the con tention. and there were great many who said it was done by some of the non-union men themselves in order te prolong the strike and thus keep then in what they considered good positions But no one for a moment would accuse any of the men who have been arrest ed who are all intelligent and peace able looking fellows. The Wander marks are brothers and the nomina owners of the automobile which has been carrying passengers on Bank street.
 All the men now under arrest with the exception of Mcclure have been in the employ of the company for several ACears McGuire came here about 2 ' TIT ago.
 hn O'Neill has been retained a
 for the men under arrest NJ
 ad long conference with ths
 tez1oon. They are held un
 N S2.000 each. An effort l. { secure bondsmeD-