Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-22
FREE USE OF WEAPONS
PISTOL BATTLE BETWEEN Of
FICERS AND LABoRERS.
Camp Visited for Purpose Of Making
Arrests and Fusillade Results
Two Men Injured.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ALEXANDRIA,, Va, September PHI
formation Of an exciting pistol battle be-
tween 4 Fairfax county deputy sheriff and
several foreign laborers in a railroad con-
struction camp at Franconia reached this
city yesterday afternoon when two prison.
ers, supposed to be Italians, who were known
by numbers rather than names, were con-
veyed through here to Fairfax Court House.
They were lodged in Jail there later for an
examination on the charge of selling liquor
without a license and rioting.
In the encounter which preceded their
arrest volleys Of pistol shots were fired and
two Italians were struck, though not seri-
ously injured. Deputy Sheriff Coxen and
his assistant. Mr.. Thomas, Fairfax county
farmer, faced a hostile crowd of about one
hundred men, and stood the brunt of a
random fire from several weapons in max
ing the arrests. Another county citizen had
been deputized by the deputy sheriff. but
he is said to have been absent when Coxen
and Thomas entered the camp to confront
the big crowd. The firing began as soon
lasted several minutes. Neither of the Of
1cers was struck. Before the fusillade
ended they had picked out the men they
were after and in few minutes more the
those two men the firing ceased and the
officers, without further molestation, con-
Quoted their prisoners to the railroad sta
ton not far from the scene of the trouble.
Alleged speakeasy Resorts.
Acting upon information that members of
the big force of foreign laborers employed
by the Kenan Company, subcontractors. on
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
railroad tracks near Franconia station were
conducting speakeasy resorts for the sale
Of liquor on Sunday. Deputy Sheriff Coxen
started for the suspected place early yes
terday morning. Apprehending trouble, he
took the precaution to deputize two citizens
to accompany him. The force of laborers
to which the suspected men were attached
consisted mainly Of Italians and Slavs, only
a few OF whom were able to speak English
They had probably obtained information Of
the approach of the officers and their pur-
pose, for no sooner had the deputies reached
the place where the men were gathered
than they showed q hostile spirit.
The deputies were given to understand
that any attempt to make an arrest would
be resisted with force. Undeterred by this
threat, the officers began to search for the
suspected men. when several in the crowd
Of laborers drew pistols and opened fire.
Coxen Well Armed.
Deputy Sheriff Coxen had prepared him
self for this emergency. On his person he
had three pistols, including big revolver of
the Colt pattern. He fired one Of the small
er pistols and then, reaching rapidly down
into his hip pocket he drew out the big and
dangerous-looking weapon. One shot from
this was sufficient to strike terror to the
hearts OF the men opposing the officers, and
resistance was at an end.
The deputies then proceeded to take the
men they were seeking into custody. 1t was
foiiAd that one Italian had been struck on
the foot, while another had received q but
let wound in the arm. They were attended
by DR.. Samuel B. Moore Of this city.