The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1908-01-25
POLICE INSPECTOR
ATTACKS. EDITOR
WORLD OFFICE AND
FIRED AT LEVEQUE.
SUSPENDS TIE PARTICIPANTS
Mayor Behrman Suspends Chief Of
Police and Detectives Who Took
Part in the Affray. Leveque Ap-
peals to Governor.

peals to Governor.
New Orleans.-Joseph M. Leveque,
the editor Of the Morning World, was
attacked and fired upon twice by In.
sector of Police Whitaker, who went
to the newspaper office On Camp
Street, near Common, accompanied
by police party.
Both shots of the head Of the po-
lice went wild, and now that the
smoke has gone into the wind, the
excitment which was brought on by
the crack of the revolver passed
away, there are two sides of the
affray to be read.
Inspector Of Police Whitaker free
ly declares that the police who were
with him had been enjoined not to
take any part in the encounter, unless
others interfered, and that the shoot
ing which was caused by the leading
editorial Of the World Of Thursday
morning, in which mention was made
of a race track affair in which In
spector Whitaker anu a newspaper
cartonist participated, and was de-
nunciation Of the head Of the police,
calling him 'joke' and saying he
''did not have the courage to put
louse off the track was a matter
that he alone carried out. He further
holds that the pistol was drawn and
used only when the newspaper editor
showed by movements OF the aands
thst he was seeking a weapon.
But Mr.. Leveque and others Of the
World staff who happened to be
about insist that all Of the police
showed revolvers, that one detective
was knocked down and another made
pistol attack upon Mr.. Roberts,
copy reader, and that while Inspec-
tor Whitaker and his party were on
the second floor and the encounter
with Mr.. Leveque was OH, two other
detectives were in the counting room
Of the World office and held tie
doors with drawn reyolyers, threaten
ing men about there.
Just after shooting Mr.. Leveques
left his office on the second floor,
while Inspector Whitaker remained
about brief time ana ;:len went OUT
into the street and finally made his
way to Police Headquarters.
While the employees Of the World
busted themselves trying to arrange
their affairs, which were disturbed
as a result Of the excitement. Inspec-
tor Whitaker remained i'll his private
office and was not placed under ar
rest.
However. District Attorney Parker
was summoned to the scene and also
made a visit to Police Headquarters,
and after having conducted an in
quiry, said that though it was UNI
derstood that proper charges would
be ma lie by Mr.. Leveque against In
spector Whitaker, he would be sure
to see that an affidavit, charging In
spector Whitaker with shooting at,
with intent to murder, would be pre-
ferred in Judge SINNERS Court, on
Saratoga and Tulane Avenue, and
that bond will be demanded.
Mayor. Behrman was notified of
the matter ana he went out to Police
Headquarters to ascertain facts con-
cerning the case. Before he would
express any opinion or ia Ike any az
ton, Mr.. Leyeque, in all extra edi-
ton, said he called on the governor
to proclaim martial law.
Governor Blanchard was informed
that the Inspector Of Police of the
city Of New Orleans, accompanied by
half dozen Of his men all armed,
had invaded the business office Of the.
paper ana attempted to murder the
editor by shooting at him severa.
times, and was asked for an express
sion Of opinion theron. In response
thereto, he said:
''This is very serious matter. No
matter what the provoeation may be
the head of the police department
cannot be justified in taking the law
into his own hands. His doing so
calls for serious consideration of his
case by those who appointed him to
office. He is not state officer. II
he were I world know what action
to take.
Asking for the instant removal of
Inspector Whitaker, the World sent
the following message to Governor
Newton c. Blanchard:
"Sir: You will in a few minutes
be placed in possession Of an extra
edition of the Morning World, detail
ing the dastardy attempt at murder
on the managing editor Of this paper.
"The paper has endeayOred in vain