The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-07-30
TOOK PISTOL FROM
POLICEMAN Gates
Frank MOragne aid Lee Id
muadson We're Arrested
WAS MUCH EXCITEMENT
Edmundson Threatened to Throw 20
llceman Gown the steps-state-
pnents Made BY the Participants
in Affair.
WAS MUCH EXCITEMENT

of a billiard sarlor on Second avenue De-
tween Eighteenth ard Nineteenth streets
yesterday about l o'clock by difficulty
between Policeman Gates ard Frank
Moragne and Lee Edn.undson, both OF
whom ale we'll known IN the city
Tho trouble which caused the excite
ment had originated on the third floor OF
the building and grew, il is said out OF
threats by Edmundson to throw the po-
liceman down the steps II the latter
would remove his badge and uniform.
The policeman was watching the third
floor by instructions of Chief Wier, who
states that he had information that
Moragne and Edmundson would attempt
to open a gambling house in the rooms Of
that floor. Edmundson was arrested on
charges of resisting an officer and va
Grancy, and Moragne on charges of inter-
fering with an officer ID yagrancy.
1t seems that Policeman Gates went up
to inspect the place and Edmundson
asked what he wanted He replied that
he was transaeting mis- business according
to orders from the chief. Some words
followed and Edmundsol ins1ted the po-
liceman to take off his badge and UNI
form, and promised he would throw Gates
down the steps. Gates refused to do so
and said that he had not come up for
that purpose. Tic remainder of the trod-
BILE is best told IN the words of the par
Elephants as follows:
Gates Statement.
s.Edmundson then rushed at me to at
tack me, and l stopped him." said the po-
liceman. Il grabbed him with one hand
and in the other | had my club which
always carry. Just then Moragne grabbed
my right hand and we tussled around the
floor for some time. Finally Edmundson
grabbed my pistol from the scabbard and
stepping back threatened to shoot my
brains out. l told him that he had the i'd
vantage and l guessed that he could
do so. Then l came down stairs and tele-
phoned police headquarters for assistance.
AS soon as l telephoned l started hack
up the steps and met EdmunGoon.
grabbed him and started down the steps
with him when | met the other policemen.
We brought him to police headquarters
and there he made bond"
What Edmundson Says.
Lee Edmundson described the affair as
follows
II had number of carpenters and ne
groes working on the place. They were
getting safe to the third floor. The
policeman came In and asked him what
he wanted. He told me he was looking
groes were afraid to work while he was
up there, as he Threatened to arrest them
for Vagrancy. He refused and | told him
to take off his badge and uniform and I
would throw him down the steps, He
grabbed me and said he was going to ar
rest me for vagrancy. | said that he
would not arrest me without a bond and
he drew back as If to strike me with his
club. Moragne ran in from the other room
and Kept the policeman from hitting me.
Gates reached for his pistol and Moragne
said that II he wanted to make II q shoot
Ing affair to wait just minute while ne
secured pistol. He ran into another room
10 desk where he thought there was
a pistol, but the desk was locked.
while he was in the other room the
policeman pulled his pistol and FORUM
ateiy L caught 1t and wrenched II from
MS hand. told him that now | had the
drop on him as he had had It on me. but
that did not intend killing him. He re-
piled by asking me to give him the gun
and promising not to arrest me. I replied
that l intended handing the gun to Chief
Wier Then he went down stairs and 7
follewd. On the steps / met other police
men, who grabbed me with their pistols
In their hands, and handled me roughly
| offered no resistance On the pavement
Policeman Joe Nix rode up on his wheel
and jumped off with his pistol in his hand
anu poheu IL IN my stomach and threat
ened to kill me If moved. I was in my
shirt sleeves and unarmed. as I had put
Gates pistol down upstairs
I'VE had not carried any gambling
things at ali upstairs and were merely
fixing up some things We do not rent
the place until the first of next month"
Moragne Talks.
Frank Moragne made a statement that
tailed practically with that of Edmund
son. He said that he was lying on the
lounge in another room, when the af-
fair first started, and that when he heard
the policeman threaten to arrest Ed
mundson, he went to see what was the
matter. When he arrived he found the
two scuffling, and stepped between them
and tried to get them apart He says
that he grabbed the polceman's hand to
prevent his clubbing Edmundson. He con-
tnued:
Then the policeman reached for his
pistol. When he did so l told him to wait
a minute IL he wanted to make 1t that
kind Of a game and I would get my
pistol. went after one. but did not find
enc. When l came back Lee had the po-
lcemans pistol. l do not know how he
got it, Lee went down stairs and later
three policemen came after me with their
pistols drawn and placed me under ar
rest" n
as follows
II rode up and as I jumped from my
wheel / took my pistol from my hip
pocket ond dropped 1t into my side pock-
ct to have ii more convenient. / knew
there had been serious trouble and l did