Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-02-25
A SMALL-SIzED RIOT.
Disastrous Attempt Of Citizens OF
Madison to Close a Pool Room.
POSSE and CROWD EXCHANGE SHOTS
Sig Mon Wounded. Ono Of Whom May Die
-Four Of the Men In the Posse Ar
rested-Constable and Police
man CIashed.

st. Louis, Feb. 20.-In an enort 10
close up a pool room that has Tor
long time operated In the outskirts OF
Madison, ILL.,, across the river from
st, Louis, three constables, augmented
by a posse Of citizens and bearing
warrants for the arrest of six men
connected with the pool room, precipi-
tated q riot late yesterday, which re-
suited In the shooting Of six men, one
of whom may die. Warrants had been
sworn out before Justice Of the Peace
Isenmeyer, Of Granite City, adjoining
Madison, and placed in the hands iof
Constable John Glass and two other
constables for the arrest Of Whitfield
Brooks and Eugene Wall, of Granite
City, and Thomas Riley, Charles Green
field, Thomas Manley and Martin
Johns, of st. Louis, charging them with
being connected with the pool room.
After the failure of the Madison coun-
ty grand jury, which recently investi-
gated the pool room. to return indict-
nents citizens took the matter In hand
with the intention of having the pool
room closed. Several days ago war
rants were issued for State Senator
David Nelson, of Missouri, charging
him with being pool seller, and Vic
tor Schuler,. charging him with con-
Quoting the pool room and beinga GUS
todian of the funds. Schiller was ar
rested Thursday and gave bond Of $500
pending a hearing. The additional
warrants were sworn out yesterday and
the three constables appeared at the
pool room to serve them. Two police
men were within and declared they had
arrested the operators of the pool room
and were guarding them. Betting was
going on as usual at the time. The
constables were ordered to leave the
premises, which they did after con-
siderable argument. Proceeding
through the neighborhood for the next
half hour the constables organized a
posse of armed citizens, numbering
about 80 persons The constables and
posse then returned to the pool room
and entered. They were at once or
Gered out and the doors were ordered
locked. The posse demurred and
words followed. One posseman, 1t is
stated. pointed a shotgun at Policeman
McCambridge, who fired revolver
pointed at the ceiling. Firing then be-
came general. The policeman was
shot through the body. The crowd in
the pool room scattered hurriedly,
many fleeing into waiting Illinois
Central train until 1t became packed.
When the fusillade was over the con-
stables and posse had possession. The
bookmakers, however, last night as
serted that the pool room will be open
as usual to-day. Although the pool
room men are now constructively I'M
der arrest, the police say they will not
permit the citizens to interfere.
William, George and Alexander
Coudy, brothers, and William Schooley,
who was shot in the leg, were last
night arrested on warrants charging
them with rioting, The warrants were
sworn out by Policeman John Meehan
before Magistrate G. L. Gibbs, The
four were in the posse and William
Coudy and Schooley were among the
citizens who secured the warrants
which the constables attempted to
serve yesterday, causing the riot. All
four were released on bonds of $500
each and their hearing was set for next
Monday.