The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-13
VIOLENCE IN WATERBURY.
a Policemen the Victim of the Strike
A NOn-UniOn MOtOman Shot.

Waterbury, Conn, March S:-Violence
in its worst form has broken out anew
lin Waterbury as a result of the high
feeling in connection with the strike
lof the motormen and conductors of the
Connecticut Street Railway and Light
ling Company. This time it is murder
land Policeman Paul Mendelsohn is the
victim. John w. Chambers, a non
union motorman, is shot n his where
about unknown, and his conductor,
George Weberndorfer, was pounded al
most into insensibility.
The scene of the crime was at For
lest Park, the terminus of the North
Main street line. The spot is an iso-
Hated one, n when the car reached
the end Of the line the crew made prep
%larations for the return trip. Immedi-
ately after the conductor turned the
trolley and the mOtOman reversed his
~lleVers, eight masked men Sprang from
the bushes by the roadside, entered the
Icar and discharged their ~revolvers, ev-
|ery man being armed. Officer Nendel-
lSOhn fell at the first report. ard as a
Ilater examination showed, the first
shot was fatal, having pierced his
heart. hi motorman was also hit n
lleaped from his car with a cry of pain.
ISOme of the men followed him, while
the remainder turned their attention to
the conductor. He was thrown to the
floor Of h a and pounded n
kicked until he was almost uncon-
IScious. The men then left him and
Joined their companies outside. From
this point in the attack their actions
lare wrapped in mystery and are caus-
ling considerable apprehension. Web
erndorfer saw his motorman leap from
the car when he was shot and he also
was followed by the murderers.
was carried off by the attacking party,
i%cannot be learned. The conductor re-
gained his feet with difficulty and
went to the side of the wounded Off
Ger. but he said that the officer was
dead. Weberndorfer hardly able to
stand went to the controller and start
led the car back toward the city with
the dead officer. On the way he met an
other car, the crew of which relieved
the injured men and hurried TO the
lefty for assistance.
The body of the dead officer vas car
|ried into police quarters ana Webern-
Idorfer was also taken there.
An alarm was Immediately sent
around the city by police and in a few
moments the entire detective del.t IT.
ment, accompanied by Is policemen,
went to the scene of the murder. A
Thorough search was made for Cham
bers, but at midnight he a not been
found.
Despite the diligent search of the po-
licemen and detectives not a clue could
be found as to the perpetrators Of the
murder.
The car when it reached the city
showed that there had beer a perfect
IVolley of shots fired at the three de-
fenseless men. The shots having been
fired while the trolley pole was off, the
three men were in perfect darkness
land were caught like rats in a trap
Public feeling is running high.
Mayor Kilduff and Chief of Police
iEgan said that they felt positive that
the murder was the work of Water
bury men.
Shortly after midnight the searching
Iofhcers came upon Motorman Cham
Ibers. who is a young fellow not over
10 years of age. His head was covered
had not been struck with a bullet but
had been pounded on the head with q
butt of a revolver. The young mar
told a startling story of his experience
He said that as soon as he leaped from
the car four men followed him firms
their revolvers. He ran at top speed
for the SWampS nearby and when he
discovered that his pursuers gained or
him he laid down. The murderers
crushed by but did not go near the
highway. They soon gave up the
search, W"hereupon Chambers hurried
from his hiding place and started fol
the city to give the alarm. He fell ir
with a policeman who conducted hin
Ito the car barns where Chambers had
his injuries attended to.