Evening journal., 1908-10-23
HELD TWO FOR
COUNTY COURT
Alleged Participants in the
Second Ward FraCaS Are
Bound Over in City Court
NEGROES SAID Mr.. BIRD
WAS CAUSING TROUBLE


John W. Thompson and William Boyer,
both colored. were held in heavy bail
for the Upper Court by Judge Cochran
this morning when on being arraignod in
city Court testimony was heard for the
prosecution only. Counsel for the de-
PENDANTS waived the privilege Of putting
on their witnesses. Judge Cochran bound
Thompson over in 5000 bail and Boyer in
$500 bail for the Upper Court.
The charges against the two men wero
the outcome Of the trouble in the Fourth
district of the Second ward. South VIII
mington. on the evening OF last SATURDAY
According to the testimony it was
Thompson who started the trouble. fol-
lowing close upon the disappearance Of q
book in which were marked the names OF
the registered voters. The testimony
which was gwen by ex-Mayor Charlls
d. Bird. BENJAMIN B. Allen, Frank J.
Quinn and James L. Conner. was sem
sational Mr.. Allen testifying on the stand
that a riot took place during which the
colored people were running up and down
the street, it was alleged. yelling XIII
all the white people" and using oaths.
If there was a riot there said the
court, interrupting Mr.. Allen IN the
course of his testimony. why didn you
get a warrant out for those who took part
and bring them in here"
Mr.. Allen said that he did not krow
fhr 90
turbance but might recognize their faces
again The court advised him to obtain
warrants for them.
Thompson's case was the FIRST heard. no
being arraigned on a charge Of inclt-
ing TO a breach Of the peace. BOYER was
charged with having stolen the book that
was the cause of the trouble.
EXMayor Tells Of Trouble.
Thompson was represented by Attorney
=. L. Garrett. The first witness called in
this case was ex-9Iayor charles -. bird.
| lie said that on Saturday afternoon at
about 6S5 clock he had occasion to 50 10
the polling place in the Fourth district os
the Second ward to ask Richard Craig
colored, who was acting as registrat OF
officer how many men he had registered.
Some one" testified Mr.. Bird. "ha ]
taken off the lock TO the back doo-
and allowed a man to come In and steal
book that was lying on table. ron
out and called for Sergeant MoDermott
and ran round 10 the back gate. John
Thompson was at the gate when we ar
/ rived and he yelled hold on The SER
geant said. I want to get in here The col
ored men began to gather in great num-
bers and Thompson cried. "Whore Is
Mayor Bird? Damn him. he's been rais-
Ing hell enough around here.
The witness said that the ,rowd was
I very much excited. At one point Mr. Bird
referred to Thompson as Mister" Judge
Cochran asked in rather a surprised tone,
who did you sayT'
Thompson" corrected Mr.. Bird. with
out the handle"
benjamin. B. Allen was next called to
the stand. Mr. Allen told about the same
story.
Said They Were Excited.
The colored men were wildly excited.
said the witness. and looked dangerous.
Mr.. Garrett took up the examination
Of the witness, asking Mr.. Allen II
anything happened outside Of the Yell
ing. Mr.. Allen said that there was
a riot about fifteen minutes after the
crowd got together 1t was here that
Judge Cochran advised Mr.. Allen to
learn who took part in the alleged pro.
ceedngs and get warrants for them
From the polling place as far as
Flemmings saloon, the witness saio,
the crowd Of colored men ran and
proved so riotous. said the witness, that
AS they ran back and forth. continued
the witness, they kept yelling xiii
every white man" Mr.. Allen said
that ne did not see any blows struck
James L. Conner, the young man
who was keeping the names of Tie
registered voters in the book that was
stolen, was then called to the stand.
Ee said he was engaged in converse.
ton with-Mr. Bird and Mr.. Craig ana
was slightly turned away from -he
table where his book was lying When
he found the book gohe he turned -
see a man running out. Conner said
that he yelled Ny book" and at that
Mr.. Bird jumped up. Conner testi-
fed that he hea:d Thompson say. XIII
Mayor Bid and the white men," U.s.
ing in place Of men" q terrible oath.
Attorney Garrett asked Mr.. Conner
in what capacity Mayor Bird was at the
registration place.
why suppose he was there for the
Democratic party" replied Mr.. Con
ner
He had a right 70 be there" de-
clared Judge Cochran. "as chairman OF
the Democratic County Committee ana
in view OF the way things have teen
going in that district"
Very we'll" replied Mr. Garrett: -
simply wanted to know i'm what capa-
city he was there in. II the court sees
At to answer instead of the witness.
very WELL
Frank J. Quinn was next called as \
! witness. He testified that he saw the
y colored men start 10 hunt for Mayor
Bird and that some Of them in the
crowd had baseball bats. pick handles
\ and other weapons. james Welsh was
To have been called a. a witness. bul
the court said that II wasn't necessary
10 call anv more. Mr.. Garrett said
he did not wish 10 present any testi.
monv ar this time. Judge Cochran
then fixed Thompson's bail. and bound
him over to the upper court.
In the case Of William Boyer. knowf
as Honey Boy" who was chsrgec
with the larceny Of the book whicf
were Mr Bird and Mr.. Conner.