Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-10-20
Trouble Between Factions al
Nleservey Breaks Out and
Row Follows
CITY OFFICIALS ARE ARRESTED
Mayor, Marshal and Others Taken to
Mason City for TriaI-Last Outbreak
Due to Auction Sale and Effort to
Levy on Goods for Debts = Booze"
Problem at Bottom of Trouble.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Mason City. Oct. 20-Mason City
and the county authorities have again
been called to attempt the pacitication
Of Meservey. The town has long been
divided against itself by the existence
of two factions. An outbreak several
weeks ago was successfully put down
and both sides appeased. The conflict
was only momentarily forgotten. how
ever, and the fire of battle only smoul-
dering, for last Saturday the battle
broke out again worse than ever.
Sunday one side worsted by the
other. called for Sheriff Holdren, Dep
uty Buchanan, and Justice Church OF
this city, to help them out. 1t all
started Saturday when j. c. Brown. the
retired druggist, started the auction
sale of some of his personal effects.
Three creditors appeared and writ of
attachment was sworn out. Constable
Peters served this writ while the auc-
ton was in progress. Just as he COM
pleted the serving he was placed I'M
der arrest by Marshal Jones. who, as
sisted by one Adrian Brogan, hustled
him away to the court Of Mayor
Fischer. Peters had been arrested on
a warrant issued from the mayors
court which charged him with disturb
ing the peace and doing personal in
jury. This information was signed by
Robert Gobeli. Peters was released
after having furnished appearance
bond in the sum of 5000.
After he had been arrested the in
terrupted sale went on in spite of the
fact that the goods for sale had been
levied upon. Peters and his followers
at once began to plan master play.
They figured that Mayor Vanderzahm
and his coterie were in the plot to
Illustrate the ends of justice. So late
Sunday evening they sent for Sheriff
Holdren and Justice Church. On war
rants sworn out from Justice Church's
court, Mayor Herman Fischer, Mar
shall L. Jones, City Attorney Wander
zahm, Auctioneer j. j. Wilson, j. c..
Brown and Robert Gobeli were ar
rested. They are all charged with con-
spiracy against the law and the in
reference with an officer while in the
performance of his duty.
Not satisfied with this the anti
mayor forces came to Mason City yes
terday and got out an injunction to
prevent the trial of Peters on the
grounds that he was being unlawfully
prosecuted The anti-mayor forces
have been assisted in this mad mixup
by Justice of the Peace Stauffer, Of
Meservey. The trial of the mayor and
his five followers, or "The Six" as
they are commonly called, began in
Justice Church's court in this city
this afternoon. Meservey is practically
depopulated, for those who are neither
principals nor witnesses in the case
are SO excited about it that they could
not stay away from the hearing. The
personal enmity element is very bitter
and the entire town has taken sides IN
the matter. "The Six" are charged
with a serious offense and it may go
hard with them. 1t is generally under
stood that the "booze" problem is at
the bottom of all this internal dissen-
sion fin MeSeryey