Daily Arizona silver belt. (Globe, Gila County, Ariz.) 1906-1929, 1908-07-31
NEGROES IN FIGHT ATTEMPT TO
DISARM POLICE IN
BISBEE
AFFAIR STARTS OVER FIGHT BE-
TWEEN TWO NEGRO WOMEN
IN AN ALLEY
Black Scrapper Resists Arrest and Is
Cracked Over the Head with a Gun
by Officer Frank Johnson-Entire
Outfit Placed Under Arrest.

BISBEE July 30.A-Serious trouble
was avoided Monday night by officers
using good judgment in not resorting
to their guns in breaking up a riot
among the negroes back of the Fair
store about $3.50 o'clock. As it was,
one of the officers was compelled TO
crack negro on the head. while an
other might have had his gun taken
away from him had it not been for
timely assistance.
The whole affair started in fight
between two negro women, Martha
Dawson and Dicie Budd. One of them
accused the other of having been re-
sponsible for the arrest of the man
Brown, who was vagged by the court
few days ago, after being arrested
in a negro woman s room.
The quarrel extended over con-
siderable period before actual hostil.
tiles began, and large crowd of ne
groes collected. When trouble did be-
gin, the negro women principals waded
in in dead earnest The Dawson wo-
man picked up pair of tailor's shears
and struck the other over the head with
them, raising a lump as big as hen
egg.
About this time. City Marshal Jack
Stevens, who had heard the racket, APP
peared on the scene. He was immedi.
ately surrounded by ten or twelve negro
women and men, who caught him by
the arms, coat and every other place
where they could secure hold. Some
one attempted TO relieve him of his
gun, but despite the number of his as
Sailants, he prevented this.
Deputy United States Marshal John
Foster then arrived as reinforcement.
He saw the predieament of his fellow
officer, and at once cleared the way by
waving his gun, without having to
strike anyone.
The two men were placed under ar
rest and were followed by most of the
crowd to Justice Hogan court. Here
son, discovered that she had lost her
pocketbook, containing $50, during her
late unpleasantness. Several of the ne
groes said they had seen George Thorn
rs, another negro, pick it up after it
had fallen, and later lay it down again.
This Thomas denied.
The court then ordered Officer Frank
johnson to go to Thomas room and
search it. The crowd again followed.
Thomas lives near the house in which
the fight between the women occurred.
When within short distance of it he
walked over to Martha Dawson, who
was in the crowd, and who had lost the
money, and struck her with his fist.
He Immediately ran at full speed for
his house, few yards distant.
Officer Johnson followed, but Thomas
reached the house in time to bolt the
door in the officers face. Bystanders
who ran to the house said they saw
Thomas run to his wife, who was in the
room, apparently handing her some
thing, after which she left. Meantime
Thomas had gone to corner of the
room and stopped down. Johnson was
warned that the negro had knife or
gun, but continued trying to force
open the door. This he finally did by
thrusting his shoulder against it.
The impetus of the blow which broke
in the door carried the officer into the
room Thomas was waiting for him
beside it and raised his arm to strike
but before he could do so he was struck
on the side of the head with the Off
Ger s gun. He was then grabbed by the
collar and gave no further trouble.
Thomas was fined $3.50 for disturbing
the peace, but no charge was lodged