The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-02
Santa Fe Detectives Are BecOm-
~. ing a Menace.
They Beat Two lnOffensiYe Men
Last Night.
WERE NOT STRIKERS.
One of Them Was A. Checksfield,
a Grocer.
Other Was a Boy Who Wanted
Work.
Arrival of the Police Prevents a
Riot.

The high-handed methods OF the
Santa Fe detectives came very near to
causing a serious riot at the north gate
of the Santa Fe shops last night After
assaulting a citizen for no apparent rea-
son the detectives were surrounded by
the strike breakers who had just come
out of the shops, and a rope was called
for. In the melee which followed, a
burIy Santa Fe guard attempted to as
sault Josiah Ross, a city detective,who
promptly stuck an automatic pistol in
the mans face and ordered him to cool
of. The weapon had soothing effect
on the entire crowd, and peace was re-
stored.
Chief Detective German of the Santa
Fe. with five assistants, came by the
store of A Checksfield, 1913 Seward ave-
nue., and ASA ulted a young man VINO
was standing in front of the store. They
then turned on Mr.. Checksfeld, who
was standing against his own picket
fence. What are you going to do ABOUT
it?" demanded one of them, and struck
Checksfield with his fist.
I was standing in front of my place,
and on my own property" said Mr..
Checksfield this morning, when that
gang came along. They jumped on a
boy who was trying for week to see
some foreman and get a job in the
shops. They turned on me and asked
me what 1 was going to do about it
answered that I was not going to do
anything. Two of them grabbed me
and pulled me away from my own
fence and third struck me. 1 was do
ing nothing, but their action was moth
ing new. 1t is the custom for these
Santa Fe detectives to knock people
down and then ask them what they
are hanging around for; but they al
ways strike first"
Josiah Ross, city detective, was sit
ting in front of ChecksheEd's store when
the man was assaulted, and saw the
whole performance. He ran out to in
terfere. and the big Santa Fe man rush
ed at him, but Ross drew his revolver
and the detective changed his mind.
L saw it ALL" is the statement of
Mr.. Ross, land the behavior of those
railroad detectives was entirely uncalled
for. They came up to CheckSf1eld and
struck him. Then some friend of
Checksfel1 reached over the fence and
hit the big guard on the nose I ran
up to stop the fight, and that big de-
teetive.2fhe one Who caused the trouble
the night before. rushed at me. I stop
ped him in hurry. A big crowd had
gathered, and they were nearly all
strike breakers who had just come out
of the shop in time to see the assault.
They seemed to see the injustice of IL,
and were about to mob the detectives.
in it, and Detective Pavey and the
chief came flying around the corner in
an automobile. The boilermakers were
yelling for rope to hang the detective
who had assaulted the boy and MIR
Checksfeld. German pointed to man
who had q baseball bat and said to me-
DO you allow anything like that? WHY
don't you arrest him.? 1 replied, I think
they need something to protect them
selves with "
DoIiCa -,
Santa E'e detectives, and say that they
cause all the trouble. Officers Summers
Gardiner, Pavey and Golf who are al
present on the Topeka police force were
Santa Fe detectives during the worst
disturbance a year ago and they never
had occasion to club or strike any man
The strikers have refrained from fight
ing, and are ordered by the union tC
run away rather than fight the railroad
guards.
The Santa Fe company has purchased
the lots at the corner of the shops
where the strikers erected q picket
house and a sign, and the strikers have
moved to another lot adjoining.
The trouble last night was with non.
union men. The union boilermakers
kept out of the melee entirely, as they
were ordered to do by the union
Further trouble is expected tonight
and city police will be in attendance t.
try and protect citizens.
A question has been raised concernins
the authority of the Santa Fe detec
tives. They are not special policemen
and Major A. M. Harvey. who rs counse
for the three strikers who were arrest
ed, would like to place the responsible
ty for their actions. Among them /,
VIII Hutton, a discharged policeman
who has a reputation for being hand,
with his club, and a big man recentiy
imported from Kansas City. The latte
is the man who dragged a little dea
woman into the police station at nooi
yesterday
The trial of the three strikers arrest
ed Monday evening by Santa Fe detec
-.