The San Francisco call., 1904-06-14
OFFICER BEATEN
BY COMMUTERS
Gate Keeper of North Shore
Line Thrashed by Passen-
gers and Then Arrested
FREE FIGHT All FERRY
Row Starts When the Special
Policeman Makes Attempt
to Eject Man From Boat

SAUSALITO, June 13.-Because John
Greed, a gatekeeper at the Sausalito
end Of the North Shore Railroad, be-
came too off1cious in the discharge of
his duties small sized riot on the fer
ry slip took place yesterday.
1t has been the custom of the COM
pany to allow little time for the pur-
pose of picking up late commuters.
Yesterday morning, without warning,
so it is alleged, the boats were started
sharply on time. 1t happened that the
boat which was to leave at S:18 yester-
day had arrived from San Francisco a
little late and had not got rid of it's
passengers by S:18.
After unloading the passengers there
was a rush from the outside for the
ticket windows by commuters who had
heard the signal "all aboard" John
Greed closed the outer gate, debarring
many people who were striving to en-
ter the building. and attempted to hur-
ry the crowd inside on the boat.
Frederick r. Sherman and Arthur
Geissler both of Sherman, Clay & Co.,
were among the crowd. Young, Sher-
man resented the language Creed used,
and upon demonstrating Greed struck
him blow upon the temple and an
other in the mouth. Sherman swung a
right. which landed on Creed's jaw, and
! Greed clutched him by the throat, fore
ing him back to the railing. AT this
J juncture Geissler jumped in to separate
the two,/ Greed then released his hold
upon Sherman, and grasping Geissler
ran him across the wharf and backed
him heavily against the wall. While
this was happening excited passengers
were striking Greed with fists and
canes, one man welding a heavy dress
/ suit case against Creed's head. The
second officer and two deckhands
jumped in to help Greed. They sue
ceeded in driving the passengers on
the boat with the exception of young
Geissler, who remained in Creed s
clutches.
Upon arriving at San Francisco Sher-
man Immediately took the return trip
! to Sausalito and had Greed arrested
upon a charge of assault. Sherman
claims that Greed reached to each hip
pocket for a revolver, and later it was
found in the side pocket of his coat.
All those who witnessed the assault
were of the opinion that Sherman had
acted rightly and that Greed was in the
wrong.
General Manager Rank when seen al
! his office claimed to know nothing OF
the details and refused to make a
/ statement beyond the fact that the
company was investigating the matter
In an interview with officer Greed he
said: THE whole affair is one l dis
liked very much. was doing my duty
I tried to get the commuters upon the
boat so that we could start out. The
time was np and I yang the alarm bell
There were aboutH thirty young mer
4 on the apron. They would not allow
the apron to be raised, so 1 proceeded
to shove them back.
lone fellow swore at me and
slapped him. He struck me in the face
and as l grappled with him to take
| him off the boat about twenty others
jumped me. One man hit me over the
head with a satchel, while others kicked
and beat me. 1 defended myself the
best / could. had no club so that
was soon overpowered.'
Other employees of the company who
were on the boat and saw the trouble
claim the encounter was unprovoked
/ by Greed