The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1907-05-10

Two seml-drunken white rOwdies
held forth for some considerable time
IN Western style on Locust street. be-
tween Second and Third avenues, We'd
nesday morning, May 8. The police
department was notified several times
by phone of the disorderly conduct of
the neutrality-suspicious., but no officers
showed up; then a party went in per-
son and reported the situation. The
offlcer at the police station to whom
the matter was reported asked, care
they white men?" Being informed
that they were disturbers, he took it
for granted that they were white men
imposing on Negroes only, and that
was not worth any consideration, as
must be judged from the fact that no
officer ever came, The rowdies, seeing
that their fun and bullyism were not
likely TO be interferred with by the DO
lice, continued to terrorize the street.
FINALLY they carried the thing too far
and interferred with colored youth
some years the junior of the rowdies.
Another colored youth came to the as
sistance of the first and the two col
tored youths opened up an artillery of
stones on the two white bullies. in
nlading them, and so hot and rapid
We're the fre that the bullies were not
allowed to retreat in order; no, thew
stood not on the order of going. but
fled precipitately toward Third ave
nue.. AS they "skidooed" before that
shower of rapid fre artillery worked
by the lads, everybody along the street.
coiored and white, gave the fleeing
fowdies the horse laugh,
For nearly an hour the rowdies stag
gered about the street brandishing
their weapons and threatening peacea,
bic and law'abiding citizens; one had
an opened knife and the other a pint
bottle loaded with 'busshead" whis-
KEY, which he ever and anon motioned
In manner as if he were going to
throw 1t at some one who happened to
inspire his displeasure.
Many people were attracted by the
antics of these two would be toughs.
and they efaned their heads and
peered IN every direction to see some
oiucer heave into sight, coming to take
the semi-inebriates in tow. But, alas!
no ofncer came, and the job of Kidding
the Vicinity of the presence of the bull
lies was left to the two colored lads
who did it thoroughly
The vulgar conduct of the two bull
lies attempted on the premises of re-
putable and respectable citizen and the
oetligerent attitude assumed by them
wnen demonstrated with and put off,
were reported at police station, both
by phone and in person, but were ig-
nored. We're these men stool piseons ?
We're they playing an inspired role or
"gameg" Were theirs the minor part
OF deeper drama2 One thing stood
out as singular in the whole affair and
was witnessed by every looker-on. and
that was this the men who had all along
pretended to be reeling drunk, ran as
steadily as men could have run when
the lads got too hot for their longer
tarry,
every class and condition of orderly
cltlEepS that have confidence in and
Tely on the proper authorities for pro
lection against rowdyism should have
it when they ask for it, without that
protection or non-protection being
predicated upon the color of the perpe.
traitor. When a complaint is made
against disturber of the peace, what
has '.Is he white or black" to do with
the nature or quality of the complaint
or crime?