Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-03-28
A DR. NKEN RIOT

OFFICER w. II. BLACK ALMOST
ovERPoWERED WHILE At
TEMPTING TO ARREST.
Timely Assistance Of Mayor T. H..
Picker Probably Saved Life of Of
ficer - Fight at East Main Street
Saloon Saturday Night.
Kill him; break in the doors; take
him off that man" were the excited
cries that came from mob of drink
crazed men in front of the Ottumwa
Saloon on East Main street Saturday
night, about 9:45 o'clock, where Off
Ger w. H. Black and Mayor T. H. Pick
ler- We're using their utmost efforts to
stop a riot that began in drunken
quarrel. A fight over an alleged in
suit to woman is said to have started
the free for all in which Officer Black
might have lost his life but for the
timely assistance of Mayor Picker.
The affair was one of the bloodiest
which has occurred in Ottumwa for
several months and although no one
was dangerously injured several of the
participants received cuts and bruises
which required medical attention and
for time 1t seemed as though Officer
Black would surely be killed. Fred
Twedell and his father, Frank Tive
dell, were arrested for their part in
the affair and will have their hearing
tomorrow evening
A Drunken Fight.
The fight began in the room at the
rear Of the saloon, where number of
men, said to be considerably under
the influence Of liquor, were carousing
The arrival Of coal miner, who is
said to have insulted the wife Of one OF
the men present, started the fight. 1t
rapidly developed into a free for all
and some of the participants covered
with blood and bearing many marks
OF the fray were led away by their
friends. -
j Officer W. H. Black was called in by
the proprietor Of the saloon to stop the
fight and was making every effort pos
J sible to separate the fighters without
trouble when, 1t is said, Fred Twedell
began pounding and beating the officer
to keep him from arresting any of the
men.
II Officer Black then began to use his
\ club but 1t broke and he and Twedell
fell to the floor This left the officer
at the mercy of the crowd and power
less to help himself A number OF
men Infatuated by drink, crowded each
other to be the first to strike or kick
the officer. Running out into the
street the proprietor Of the place was
} unable to find another officer but saw
Mayor Picker and told him that the
crowd would kill Mr.. Black unless as
sistance could be had. Mayor Picklel
J rushed into the saloon and although
a crowd of men on the sidewalk tried
to follow him he drove them back ant
at once began helping the c.ficer. Tht
men were mostly from the East End
and, drunk Us they were, would no
strike the mayor, who was throwins
them to one side and pulling then
from the officer.
Both Men Fell to Floor.
Order was restored and the office
and mayor were standing at the from
Of the saloon waiting for the patro
wagon when Fred Twedell who, was
. under arrest, again started to fight thu
) officer and both men fell to the floor
{ In falling Officer Black struck his heat
against hinge on the door, cutting
severe cash and causing the blood tt
flow freely. Oficer Black was maste
!. of the situation and kept saying t,
Twedell, I am not going to hurt 20,
J If can help It; will you be good If
let you up. Mayor Picker prevented
; the father of Twedell from interfering
, with the officer and as the blood flowet
out on to the sidewalk the crowd out
/ side set up the cry, xiii him, kill him
break in the doors, take him off tina
man." Mayor Picker stood at tn,
door and was successful in keepin,
the crowd back.
3 Fred Twedell and his father, Franz
2 Twedell, were taken to the police sta
tion where the former and Office
Black received the necessary medica
attention from DR.. J. w. Elerick. /
! few minutes afterward Officer Blacl
was back on his beat with his hea,
sewed up and his clothes somewha
E torn and bloody, but remained on dut
$ the rest of the night.
TwedeIIs Aarraigned.
The Twedells were afraigned in pc
: !. lice court yesterday morning on tn
p charge of interfering with an Office
S in the discharge of his duty. The
J. were released on lond and will hav
r their trial tomorrow evening. Ere
Twedell was penitent and said that h
0 wanted to see officer Black and apollo
: gize Drink he said was the cause Q
his violating the law and that he rea
/, lied now that he was in the wrong.
i Those who Witnessed the affair sa
that Officer Black would have bee
a perfectly justified in drawing his RI
volver and using it and are loud i
r their praises of the GOODNESS and juds
ment displayed by the officer when hi
!, life was threatened by the drunke
l mob. They also commend the merry
: Of Mayor PiclSler in rushing In to tn