The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-05
QIELLlNG A RIOT.

There seems to be absolutely no de-
Tense for the action of the New Haven
police force at the Fowler block FIRE on
Saturday, when they arrested three by
ISLANDERS, who were Yale students, af-
ter administering to them a number of
vicious, disabling blows with their
clubs that drew blood profusely and
broke one young mans nose II the
stories Of the boys who were arrested
may be believed (and there seems TO be
no reason to think they cannot bel,
then the officers were very much at
fault
The exact situation the students
found themselves in should be explain
ed They We're just returning from a
ball game at Yale field, where vocal
announcement for the local team had
been made more necessary by the fact
that Yale came out one run behind.
Arriving in the center OF the city, the
boys heard the fire bells merrlly telling
I the story of a second alarm fire. What
more natural than that they should
flock to the scene Of the connagration?
What more natural for them, being
students and just returning from a ball
game. to comment upon the doings OF
the men Of the fire and police depart
ments in tones that were not SO pi-
anisslmo as the latter might have wish
ed them to be? Although we would
he far from advising that the students
he allowed to run the city, still the old
adage Of When in Rome DO as the
Romans Do can well be recommend
ed to the officers who are reported to
have arrested the three In question. Tho
boots and yels Of a college crowd are
not nearly so forboding Of an approach
Ing riot as are those OF crowd Of
Bowery loafers In New York and the
two crowds must be treated on a diff
ferent basis
Graham Foster was one Of the boys
arrested At Yale II is said that he is
considered to be one Of the most gem
tlemanly and unobtruslve students. In
deed. being such, his arrest has now
been made a. standing Joke among his
fellows His story OF his arrest is that
he was standing some distance behind
the fire lines, that were none too well
defined AZ best when a policeman
came along on the run apparently as II
chasing some one The two collded and
Foster nearly fell. While of his bal
ance the officer hit him singing blow
across the nose which broke the bone
Another blow followed all but upon his
temple. where the force of It would
have been very serious matter, and
his arrest followed Charles Gilbert
was another who was arrested Mr.
, Gilbert is business manager Of the Yale
News and ono Of the best known mon
In college There seems TO be no rea
son to lsbelIeve his assertion that he
was not within the FIRE lines and far
less 10 think Il Of him that he was
melting a riot" He saw an officer
, who had lost his temper clubbing some
, body, and stepped up to ask the officer
, for his number The reply he got was
, his arrest To add insult to injury the
students were hailed TO the central po-
: lice station, where their pedgrees We're
[ taken the same AZ that Of any common
: criminal. As luck would have It there
. was prominent New Havener who
, realized the Innocence of the boys and
he voluntarily went their bonds
What the officers excuse will be Is
) unknown Probably they viii have
: none. But It is the unparalleled and
, unanimous opinion of those who were
[ present that they acted In manner
{ that was not justified and an explana.
, ton should be forthcoming Prescott.
, ing Attorney Simpson has changed the
charge to breach Of tho peace and II 1:
/ to be hoped that the judge will realize
+ the situation better than did the Of.
, fcers.