The San Francisco call., 1908-04-02
WOMEN ATTACK
CLERGYMAN ON
TURLOCKSTRF[T
After a Horsewhipping by a Fe-
male Trio He Is Beaten
by Three Men
Assailants AlIege Defamation of
Character, Which Their
Victim Denies
Sensational Affair Results From
Pastors Crusade Against
Towns Saloons
sPEc1AL DISPATCH NO rHE cALL

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL
TURLOCK, Cal, April Rev. J.
M. Hilbish. pastor of the Methodist
church at this place, was made the VIC
tim OF. a sensational assault this after
noon. Hilbish was horsewhipped
publicly by three women-Jennie
Keenroy. Ethel Jose ard Josie Hal
ley-in the center of Main street, in
front of Jesse Santos saloon and the
Palm restaurant. He made no effort
to resist the women, defending himself
from the blows as much as possible.
He was lashed on the head and body
and backed away around the corner
into Front street, where three men
D. E. Scales, F. Waterman and Ed
Fullager-are alleged by eye wit
nesses to have attackck him.
Rev. Mr. Hilbish was badly bruised
on the head and booS, one finger of his
left hand was broken and two of his
teeth were loosened- He was struck
hard blow on the jaw by one of the
men and fell, so badly dazed that he be-
came unconscious for moment.
Friends rushed to his assistance and
Scales, the man who struck the blow
and is alleged to have hit him after he
street Several hundred men followed
and he took refuge in the Turlock
drug store, where Ctr Marshal John
Harrison warned the infuriated crowd
away. All three men are said to have
participated in the assault
The trouble started over an alleged
statement by Rev Mr.. Hlbish that the
women employed In the Palm restaur-
ant were disreputable. This statement
the minister avows he never made.
Rev. Mr. Hilbish was talking with
L. L. Baxter in Main street when W. C.
Hofen, proprietor of the Palm restaur-
ant, rushed to the street and asked him
what he meant by referring TO the Palm
employees as disreputable women. Hofen
alleges that Hilbish made no reply.
Then the women sailed from the res
taurant with buggy whips and bella
bored him.
The minister says that he replied to
Hofens question:
"Hofen, are you drunk?"
Hofen says he had nothing to do with
the assault by the men, but simply
wanted to call Hilbish to account for
having assailed the character of his
employees.
The affair. no doubt, was preconcert-
ed, as the women had the whips ready
for action. The men and women di-
rectly connected with the assault were
arrested and held in $500 bonds each.
Their trial is set for Friday before JUS
tice Donkin.
Rev. Mr.. Hilbish has been attacking
the saloons. He introduced a petition
before the council Tuesday night, pray
ing for the calling of an election for
the purpose of voting on the question
of license or no license. The assault
today has lined up wavering citizens
with the minister and the better ele-
ment denounce the attack. Many Of
fers of financial help in the anti-saloon
fight were made today.
The three women declare they were
right in their action and do not regret
it. They say their characters were at
tackled and they defended themselves.
On the other hand. the friends of Hill
bish assert, as does the pastor himself,
that the latter had not mentioned the
women at all and that his accusers do
not state the truth.
The town is stirred and the assault
has led to crusade to drive out saloon
hangers on, gamblers and vagrants.