Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-02
MISGUIDED.
Slight Discord at the Cotton
Mills, New Years Morn.
Anew Operatives Seek to Celebrate,
and Want Others to Join,
But Later Conclude to Work, ard Mills
Run as Usual.

There was trouble in the weave room
az the cotton mills Of the Edwards Co,
al an early hour Friday morning. which
threatened at one time to assume the
dimensions of n small riot, but which
WAS averted by the timely assistance
OF the police and some of the emnloycs
of the mills, and the dispersal of the
ringleaderS. There We're no serious
consequences. although blows were
freely exchanged, and a number OF
those present received slight cuts and
bruises about the head and face.
The trouble began out of the fact
that q few of the employees of the room
dld not wish to work, on account of
the day being New Years. and not
wishing to work themselves. did not
want any Of the employees to work.
For this purpose, it is alleged, 4 num-
Der OF the men gathered in the weave
room before the hour for beginning
work, which is 60 y. NJ. and endeav-
ored to induce the other operatives to
refrain from working.
When James +. Kingsley, the over
seer of the weave room, arrived, at COS,
he found Il crowd assembled in the
i'oiii VII tIit StNoliu lIOOT. NIOlils, 10 HIS
office, he removed his outer clothing,
and then, returning to the room, re-
qu"sted the operatives to so to work,
which they did not do. Just at that
time. fight began between two of
the men, and when Mr.. Kingsley step
ped between them to stop the fight one
Arthur Odette, it is alleged. took him
by the throat. choking him so that he
fell to his knees, nearly overpowered.
odette then released him and the fight
continued. AS soon as Mr.. Kingsley
recovered his breath, he again inter-
fered, when he received Il blow in the
face which felled him to the floor, and
while lying there, some one kicked him
in the side.
AT this juncture one of the opera
tives came to his assistance, and he
went to his office to wash the blood
from his face. When he returned to
the weave room, Agent Morang had ar
rived, and was endeavoring to induce
the operatives to so to work.
Mr.. MOrang reached the mills Just
before $50, and was making his usual
morning round of the mills when he
was told that there was trouble in the
weave room. Going at once to the
room, he found the operatives in the
state of excitement referred to above.
He requested them to so to work.
which some Of them refused to do. He
then requested those who desired to
work to begin, and those who did not,
to leave the room, so as not to inter-
ferc with the others, but this some Of
the supposed ringleaders refused TO do.
saying, it is alleged that they would
not work, and would not allow the mill
to start. After repeating I2e-recuest.
AMI getting the same reply, Mr.. Morang
sent for the police.
Deputy Marshal Hanks was at the
carly morning train. according to GUS
tom. and on receiving the message, Sc
cured a team, and started at once for
the mills. On arriving in the weave
room, Agent Morang requested the
the office: 20 remnVe the men who We're
making the trouble indicating Odette
as one Of them, and upon M. Hanks
placing his hand upon Odette's should
err the trouble assumed its greatest
proportions. There was general
rush, during which the officer and his
man went to the floor between two of
the machires.
During the time that the men were
on the floor. the officer was used pretty
roughly, being pounched upon by others
in the crowd receiving several scratch
es on the face, and many blows in the
back, and as he drew his club to de-
ferd himself, someone wrenched it
from his hand. AS he did this he lifted
himself from Odette. at once took adj
vantage Of the opportunity. and free
ing himself. fled along the room. and
escaped. At about this time, Officer
Miron arrived. ana the riot subsidized,
everyone in the room. with the excep-
ton Of Odettc, going to their work.
When Marshal Breen came down
town he swore out a warrant for
Oi"tte, and placed it in the hands If
the deputy marshal and later in the
afternoon. Odettc was arrested on train
No. !. having gone to NassalborO. and
taken .hn train at that point, for Wat
crvillc. lie was taken to Waterville.
and in the afternoon was brought back
to Augusta, on train 16.
Early in the afternoon, warrants
were also sworn out for John GOsse-
Ign and Fred Blanchette. on the same
charge rs that on which Odette had
been arrested, assauling an officer, and
upon the arrival Of the latter, the three
men were arraigned before Judge And
rews. They We're represented by G. c.
Sheldon and Benedict Maher. and each
waived n hearing and pleaded not
guilty. Several witnesses were exam
ined. ANA owing to the lateness of the
hour. the hearing was continued until
| o'clock. tni, afternoon.