The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-08-03
DEPUTY SHORTER
STOPS q FIGHTS
on EXCURSION
Greatness Thrust Upon Special
Cop Results in His
Downfall.
N. Y. POLICE CALLED TO
STOP RIOT ON TUG
Three Arrests 0ccur on Trip of
Bloomfield Fife and Drum
Corps.

"Some are born great. some achieve
greatness and some have greatness
thrust upon them
In the case of Special Deputy Sheriff
Charles Shorter, Of Bloomfield, vino is
almost as big in stature as his name.
greatness was thrust upon him. Il
came his way in large punches. So
much so, indeed, that New York police
reserves were called in 10 save the
doughty deputy from standing too long
in the limeliGht.
1t all happened on the annual Xcur-
sion yesterday of the Bloomfield Fife
and Drum Corps. of that OWL. The
outing was by barge ana tug 10 Had-
son Grove On the west bank Of the
river. Shorter represented the majesty
of the law on the excursion. He mad ii
easy until the return trip. Then Things
began to hum. Hudson Grove light
ming began to take effect and Shorter
found himself quite busy stopping
E, fights.
Shorter wore a brand-new uniform,
a helmet and a polio mans badge. He
was so good at stopping fights that 1t
became fun to start one Just TO watch
the little deputy sheriff. who stands
about 5 feet 5k inches, sail in and lay
out Jersey jingoes.
William Structi, % years old. a
weaver, of 80 Thomas street, Bloom
field. was one of the most strenuous
Jerseymen. He started about all the
fights, and when Shorter attempted TO
take him in for good and lock him up
in the captains room, Frank DAILY, q
years old, a halter, CO "a Burnside
street, Orange and John Brennan, IS
years old, OF 81 Burnside street, Or
ange. both heavier and taller men than
Shorter, jumped upon the deputy
sheriff n tried to take his man away.
A half dozen good friends of the
deputy launched themselves into the
thick of it, and then the fight became
general.
There were several hundred persons,
including a great many women and
children, aboard the barge. Captain
Leroy, of the Empire, could do nothing
but reverse his flag as a signal of dis
tress. The tug Virginia Jackson let
out the most piercing screams from her
whistle. while women and children.
with shrieks and yells, joined in the
chorus of discord.
All his excitement happened off 1S0th
street, and Patrolman Ryan. of the
West 1b2d street station, New York. on
duty on the West 10th street recrea-
tion pier. saw tho Stars and Stripes
upside down on the barge and heard the
whistle of the Virginia Jackson playing
a calliope quickstep.
From the way the passengers were
jumping about Ryan knew it was no
/ c.. 49, .llN~@I yfa.ta H. t@I~,l~@aI
Harbor A police and Acting Captain
Mcknight sent out the armed police
cruiser Patrol. In command of Lieu
tenant john F. Dwyer, and police
launches c and D.. in charge respective
ly of Sergeant Morris and Sergeant
Mulhall, to intercept the bargeful of
fights.
The police fleet met the enemy off
Twenty-third street and a boarding
party climbed over the barge's rail.
The 1000 excursionists were in confu-
sion and the police found the Deputy
with his new uniform almost stripped
off and collar, necktle m badge gone.
I'm mighty glad you've GOMEZ said
Shorter. I'VE stopped twenty-one
fights OH the way down and was just
starting in to stop the tWenty-second.
They tried to throw me overheard"
Shorter identified Structi. Daily and
Brennan. Lieutenant Dryers men ar
rested all three and they We're trans
ferred, together with the deputy and
five witnesses who volunteered to testi-
fy for Shorter, in launch d to Harbor
\ station, where they presented a pic
turesque variety of blackened eyes.
swollen noses and shredded garments.
Structi, charged with disorderly con-
duct and creating a riot. and DAILY and
Brennan with ~obstructing an officer in
the discharge of his duty, We're hurried
along with the disheyeled Jersey special
and the witnesses to the Night Court
at jefferson Market, where the magis-
trate wrestled with the question of
extra-territorial jurisdiction over Fed
eral waters. those concerned being Jer-
seymen and the special deputy. an of
dcer If the peace Of Essex county.
The three men We're fined Sc each.
The steamer Patrol escorted the ex-
cursion as far as Jersey waters in the
Kill Won Kull.