The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-03-11
Violence in It's Worst Form Breaks
Out al Waterbury.
4 H0H-UHIoAl ngTo2Aala SHOT.
George Weberndorfer, The Con
ductor, Pounded Into Insensi-
bility---Eight Masked Men At
tack Trolley Car.

Waterbury, Conn, March 9.-Vio-
lence in its worst form has broken out
anew in Waterbury as a result Of the
high feeling in connection with the
strike of the motormen and conduct
ors of the Connecticut Street Railway
and Lighting company. This time it
is murder and Policeman Paul Men
delsohn is the victim. John W. Cham
bers, a non-union motorman, is shot
and his whereabouts unknown and his
conductor, George Weberndorfer, was
pounded almost into insersibility.
The scene of the crime was at
Forest Park, the terminus of the
North Main street line. The spot is an
isolated one, and when the car reach
ed the end of the line the crew made
preparations for the return trip.
Immediately after the conductor turn
ed the trolley and the motorman re-
versed his levers, eight masked men
sprang from the bushes by the road
side, entered the car and discharged
their revolvers, every man being
armed. Officer Mendelsohn fell at
the first report, and as later ex-
animation showed, the first shot was
fatal, having pierced his heart. The
motorman was also hit and leaped
from his car with cry of pain.
Some OF the men followed him, while
the remainder turned their attention
to the conductor. He was thrown to
the floor of the car and pounded and
kicked until be was almost uncon-
scious. The men then left him and join
ed their companions outside. From
this point in the attack their actions
are wrapped in mystery and are
causing considerable apprehension.
Webe rndorfer saw his motorman leap
from the car when he was shot and he
also was followed by the murderers.
Whether be escaped or whether be
was carried off by the attacking party,
cannot be learned. The conductor
regained his feet with difficulty and
went to the side Of the wounded Off
Ger, but he said that the officer was
dead. Webendorfer hardly able to
stand went to the controller and start
ed the car back toward the city with
the dead officer. On the way he met
another car, the crew of which re-
1lSFS0 Gli0 IL uJoISO 1uou duO uOliSo u
the city for assistance.
The body of the dead officer was
carried into police quarters and
Weberndorfer was also taken there.
Shortly after midnight the searching
officers came uopn Motorman Cham
bers, who is a young fellow not over
20 years of age. His head was covered
with blood but it was found that be
had not been struck with bullet but
had been pounded on the head with &
butt of a revolver. The young mar
told startling story Of his experience.
He said that as soon as leaped from
the car four men followed him firing
their revolvers. He ran at top speed
for the swamps nearby and when be
discovered that his pursuers gained or
him he laid down. The murderers
rushed by but did not 60 near the
highway. They soon gave up the
search, whereupon Chambers hurried
from his hiding place and started fol
the city to give the alarm. He fel
in with q policeman. who conducted
him to the car barns where Chamber
had his injuries attended to.