Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-20
Policemen Stripped of Stars and
Guns, Kicked. Maltreated
and Jeered
TROOPS MAY BE CALLED OUT
Respectable Town People Are Demand
ing Reinstatement Of Chief of Police
Melon, Who Has Hitherto Held the
Situation in Hand by His Own Per-
sonaI Force.

Bonesteel S. D.. July 20.-Riot and
lawlessness reigned in Bonesteel yes
terday. The police We're absolutely
unable to cope with the situation ana
the grafters and gamblers had things
their own way. Governor Hereid has
been communicated with relative TO
sending troops, but the work is nearly
closed and it would take too long TO
get the troops here. Clerk in Charge
McPhaul was appealed to for govern
ment protection, but his reply was that
the government would do nothing until
Uncle Sans property was interferea
with.
The trouble started Monday when
the trustees ordered OFF the street
games. This they followed with the
letting out OF Chief OF Police Melon,
who has held the situation in hand by
his own personal force. He is an eX-
pensive luxury. and the trustees
thought they could get along without
him. They have tried it. The local
force is made UP of men unused 70
this kind of an element. and they were
as helpless as babies. The guns were
taken from them. theil stars removed
and they themselves kicked out into
the streets or deposited IN alleys. The
crowd elected the fun The grafters
say they are paying for certain priv
ileges and are disposed to get what
they have paid for.
Marshal McDermott the First.
ms tal hal
McDermott tried to stop shell game.
He was indiscrete enough to flash a
gun, which was promptly taken away
from him, How will you have it =
over the head. or in some other way
humorousNy asked the gang, and then
he got 1t. When he received 1t he was
out in the street minus gun and mir
us a star, with several healthy bruises
as mef1ento of the occasion. Then
the gang started out to find more po-
licemen They found him. How VIII
you have it?' was a favorite form of
speech to the coppers. he was not
questioned further and before his gun
could be used 1t would be snatched
away from him and brought with
crushing force over his head.
This happened about a dozen times.
Policemen were kicked maltreated AMI
jeered, while the crow,i laughed. Joe
Boslaugh, brother-ill-law of po-
!iceman. felt someone going thru his
pockets. He turned GA the man ana
downed him Immedia ely a gun which
he had IN his pockel. was snatched
by someone in the crowd and he was
smashed over the head. Policemen in
terfered and the grafters pointed out
Boslaugh as the asss,ilant. and the
intelligent police force soon had him In
the lookup.
The situation is seething. The re-
spectacle town people are demanding
the reinstatement of Nelson, who seems
to be the only man who can handle the
crowd. The trouble seems to be that
the town trustees have sold privileges
which. as, one gambler expressed u:
They haven't the CUTS to deliver" and
this is the trouble Absolutely no ade-
uuate provisions have been made to
handle the tough element that is here.
Troops may be called out to protec.
the town during the week of filing,
when thousands of dollars will be
brought into town. The total registra-
ton yesterday was 3,ioo.