The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-13
CowardIy Assau|ton W. O.
Smith at Polls.
TWO PRIMARY ROWS
The Case of the BibulOus Worker, The
Good Citizen Called in by the Po-
lice and the BeIicose Peace
Maker Comedy From
lag.

With a Star-Shaped cluster OF court
plaster, with the dried blood showing
through, adjoining a more than or
dinarily prominent forehead, Mr.. w.
O. Smith sat at his linotype machine
at Edwards & Broughton's and posi-
lively refused to give any information
as to the source from which he re-
ceived the blow. except that he got
it in the attempt to exercise his suff-
rage in the matter of a constable for
Raleigh Township.
Earlier in the day I had learned of
a riot at the "Outside West precint
on Saturday in which Mr.. Smith was
laid up. Beyond the corpus de-
lictu'' of the court plaster. however,
details were and are exceedingly hard
to obtain. Indignant tho he un-
doubtedIy is. Mr.. Smith is constrained
to be TetiCent.
I'D rather for you not to say any
thing about this" said he last night.
l dissented
You see it's this way he con-
tinued, II live out near Pullen Park
and / have to go home late at night
up the railroad. That's a mighty
tough crowd and 1 don't know
whether some OF them might not lay
for me # l said anything about it.
L have already fixed everything with
the constable and you mustn't say
anything about il.
Did more than one man hit you?'
Eyes. When l went to vote. there
were a lot of tough people standing
about and some Of them shot in
their lip and one thing led to another
but you must not print anything
about all this,''
Mr.. Smith was positive-more posi-
tive when it was borne in upon him
that news was news"
"The law don't permit YOU to use
my name when l forbid it,
From other sources. it was learned
that when Mr.. Smith walked UP to
the polls with a Scott ticket for con-
stable in his hand. his appearance
more particularly the ballot that he
showed-aroused comment more
frank than Chesterfieldian. AS Mr..
Smith said zone thing lead TO an
other and three men set upon him
anxious To vote and beat him sorely
The lick that did the damage landed
between the eyes high up on the fore
head and the cut that il made sug-
gested brass kuncks, although of this
there is no proof at hand.
The man who struck this blow is
said to have been Wiley Stronger
Straughan-and the other two assail-
ants are as yet unknown
AS stated, although the affair oc-
Cured at daylight and at the polls.
there is a strange mystery, when
seems to have been manufactured for
the occasion, which seems TO sur
round the case. Does the secrecy sur
rounding the matter grow entirely out
of Mr.. Smith fears or does it have
deeper meaning? Since when did
constables acquire the power to have
assaults fixed" with them? Is there
anything in the fact that new con-
stable primary must be held which
may furnish an additional eXplana-
ton?
From still other sources, other de-
tails-but still no names-Were
learned.
Some one of Scott's friends handed
Mr.. Smith a ticket, which he took.
Some one else handed Mr.. Smith
a Woodall ticket, saying as he did So
He's q union mani"
81 don't know about that" Mr..
Smith is reported to have replied.
"You are a d-n scab" yourself re-
torted the WoodaIl man.
You're a Ii" but Mr.. Smith
never got the fighting word quite out
of his mouth Some one swatted him
behind, some one else caught him
about the middle and he with the
brass kuncks or the bony fist. as the
| case may be, dealt him the blow on
| head above mentioned.
At this juncture a Mr.. White IS said
| to have grabbed Mr.. Smiths oppon-
| ent in the flank, only to be himself
| instantly involved in the melee which
| ragged for some minutes before quiet
| was restored. Mr. White was also
| bruised, but Mr. Smith alone bore
away with him the marks of conflict.
"Well, anyhow" said Mr.. Smith
| as / went away, you'd better not
| publish anything about this or use
my name. I know the law and the
| law says you can't print my name
| without my authority"
| But, surely, the Legislature has
| placed an embargo on Smith
That were indeed 10 rob the personal
column of it's chieftest charm.
Ill Advised Peacemaking.
Another row that furnished excite
nent during the primary created
through a MISUNDERSTANDING and a
worthy effort on the part of Mr.. q.
y. Hocutt to act as Deacemaker
One of the workers at the polls
at the First Division of the Third
Ward whom the flush OF victory
brought to q state Of HILARIOUS enthu-
siasm was sought to be arrested by
the police who called in Mr.. w. X.
Terry as assistant. AS Mr.. Terry
caught hold of the enthusiastic
worker" Mr.. Hocutt caught hold OF
Mr. Harris roughly and With insist"
ance Thereupon Mr.. Terry, in the
| flush os his new-found authority
| turned and smoto Mr.. Hocutt who. in
| time. smotc NJ. Harris.
| Result: A procession eight TO the
| station house. two policemen, three
| assistants. and the bibulous worker
| aft the polls. Mr. Hocutt the peace
! maker and Mr.. Terry, the newly made
deputy who had exercised the func-
tons of a policeman only TO become a
! prisoner himself.
Yesterday morning in the Mayors
| court, Mr.. Hocutt explained that he
| did not mean to butt in to the per-
| Torrance Of police duties and that
when he grabbed Mr.. Terry he did
not suspect that he had become a
--of the law: while Mr.. Terry
explained that being for the time
/ being q policeman, he had smitten
Mr.. Hocutt because his rights as an