The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-08-09
MOB STORMS CAR BARNS.
Two Thousand Women Tried to Take
Prisoner Away From a
Policeman.


at police headquarters as "near'
crimes against girls were followed by
nearer lynching today. Out Of the
score of complaints that reached the
police, half dozen demanded ser
ious attention. Whether the number
is extraordinary is disputed, but GER
tain it is that never before has mob
vengeance so frequently attended at
tacks upon children.
Led by a woman who, alternately
in Italian and broken English cried
"Avenge my daughter,' a reckless
crowd Of perhaps two thousand per
sons tonight stormed the 18th Street
car barns of the Metropolitan Street
Railway company, where a policeman
, had sought refuge with a seriously
punmeled prisoner.
Paul Sorgerato, a Greek peddler, 80
years Of age, had made the mistake,
so it is charged, of kissing Grace
Josco, an Italian girl Of II years. A
shrill cry from the girl and an i'm
passioned appeal by the mother put
the foreigners Of the neghborhood in
a rage and as the Greek took to his
heels a crowd pursued him. When a
block had been covered Sorgerato
stumbled and fell, and the mob was
upon him. Kicked nearly senseless,
the Greek, powerful man, neverthe-
less, gained his feet only to be knock
ed down again. Some one had snatcled
a clothes-ine from the window Of a
grocery store, and the rioters attemp-
ted to put a moose over the offender s
hehd. Only the pver-eagerness OF
each rioter to have a hand in the las
soing saved the peddler's neck. A po-
ieeman clubed his way to the endan-
gered man. The crowd fell back and
the officer dragged his man to the
nearby car barns. Coneealing his
prisoner in car, the Office awaited
assistance while the rioters threw
themselves against the doors in an ef-
fort to force an entrance. Police re-
serves stood off the mob, while the
Greek was hustled into a patrol wa
gon. Through a crowd that cried
"Kill him, lynch him" the police
fought their way to the nearest sta
ton house. Sorgerato's eyes were
blackened, his nose broken, scalp torn,
face lacerated, and his body black
with bruises.
Cheated Of their man the crowd
vented its fury on CASTOR Keriskell,
an unoffending workman, homeward
bound. As he was passing the riot
ers a boy pointed him out. at the
same time yelling, "That's the mans
friend. He was there too." Keriskeu
was pounded uptil he was unconscious.
The police reserves finally removed
Q1m 10 uOSpGGdl'
Edward Pratt, a millwright, 46
years old, had a somewhat similar ex-
perience late this afternoon in West
57th street. Nellie and Helen Farrell,
each about ten years old, accused
Pratt Of improper remarks. He was
frightfully mauled before being res
cued from a mob by the police.
Adelaide Wildrer, a nurse, fought
off an essailant on the West Side to-
day. The man was arrested. A man
who attempted an assault upon lit
tie girl in the street escaped.
Tony Sarbo was arrested on a
ehild's complaint in Brooklyn.
A committee from the Central Fed
Grated Union called upon Acting
Mayor MCGOWAN today and Offered
to furnish from the Union any num-
Der of men needed to assist the police
in the present emergency. Mr.. Meow
an thanked the committee, but said
he believed the "crime wave' had
passed, and that the police could do
what was necessary.
The courts are acting promptly on
assault eases. Paul J. Schmidt, a
blacksmith, charged with having at
attempted to attack a little girl, was
today sentenced to the penltentlary
for, one year. Antonia Levant, for a
similar ofense, was given SIX
months.
"There isn't any crime wave, -
said Superintendent jenkins, Of the
Soc:s,ssy for the Prevention Of Cruelty
1c Children, today. Our statistics
show no increase in the number of
actual assaults committed upon girls