Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-18
AN ASSAULT CHARGED
CLEMENT PIERCE CITED BEEoRE
MAGISTRATE AT HYATTsvILLN.
Lively Scene Yesterday at Wildwood
Patrons Resist an Officer and
f. His Deputies.

Clement Pierce was arrested yesterday
near Takoma, Md, on the charge Of as
saulting Constable r. II. Vincent OF Hy-
attsville, Md. Pierce is a plasterer and
recently removed from this city to North
Takoma. The charge of assaulting Con-
stable Vincent also stands against Geo.
Brown, who has promised to surrender
to the authorities this afternoon.
Richard Kennedy is wanted by the au-
thorities. also. for the alleged illegal sale
Of liquor at Wildwood.
Magistrate G. H. Dahler will hear the
cases of Brown and Pierce this afternoon.
Kennedy has not yet been apprehended.
/ Wildwood. a resort In Prince Georges
county. Nd. was the scene Of excitement
yesterday afternoon when Constable VIM
cent and three deputies went there to see
If the gambling and liquor laws were being
violated, and this visit caused the arrests
places in the county under former admin
tration, 1t Is said, had not shown much
evidence Of fear when officials paid Sunday
visits to their places. and such, 1t Is said.
Vincent went to Wildwood When Con-
stable Vincent made known to those in the
place that his visit was for the purpose OF
doing his duty as an officer of the county
those about the resort proceeded to give
notice that they had no intention Of being
arrested. The constable and his officers
were greatly outnumbered by the alleged
violators of law and their patrons, and the
latter evidently thought they would be able
to dispose of the officers at short notice.
The Constable Was Pluclky.
Constable Vincent had been in many tight
places before yesterday. and he had no idea
of being frightened off so easily. He under
stood the move that was contemplated.
which was to make him a prisoner in the
big structure and fasten the place 80 Sc
curely that he could not get away. It soon
became necessary for the constable to
break his way out, and to do so he had to
break a door. Patrons of the place. it IL
said, were prepared to look after the three
deputies when the fight should be precip-
1tated by the manager, but the constable
and his assistants put up strong fight.
and the head of the manager soon bore ev-
fdence. in crimson, that he had sustained
injury. Constable Vincents face was
scratched, but the injury was not serious.
For a short time the men engaged in Sc
we're battle Stones were hurled through
the air, and one of them damaged the head
of the reputed manager Of the place.
The trouble started while the constable
was engaged in conversation with the man
ager. The former had his handouts ready
to put on the wrists of the intended pris-
oner. He drew his revolver but was not
forced to use it. Politics, 1t Is alleged, was
for the attempted raid. One by one the
men at the resort disappeared. and the
officers succeeded in making only one ar :
rest. Their prisoner, who said his name
was Pierce and that he was from Mont
gomery county, was taken to Hyattsville
and placed In the town lookup to await
trial i
Sheriff Interested.
Sheriff Middleton, who succeeded the late
Sheriff Hardisty, learned of the affair this
morning He called at police Headquarters
and had q talk with Capt. Boardman in the
belief that some additional arrests had
been made and that the defendants either
belonged in this city or had been brought
here on their way to Hyattsville. He left !
headquarters With the intention of going to
Hyattsville and rendering assistance:
The business in hand Is not new to Sheriff
Middleton, for he was sheriff a number Of
years ago and handled a number Of import
ant cases during, his, term. Early this
ymarning Constable. Vincent procured war.
rants for some of those who are alleged TO
have participated III yesterdays tfbubie. "a
1t is said that Constable Vincent's atten-a
ton was called to the alleged 1awbreaking
at wildwood by residents of that section Of
the county and yesterday went there for
the purpose Of putting an end to the Jaw
leSSneSS.