The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-07-05
Walter Renk Goes Down Un-
der Heavy Coupling Pin
Welded by Haworth, Street
Car Conductor.
MEMBERS OF BAND
FIGURE IN MELEE
Several Arrests Have Been
Made and Last Night Police
Were Still Searching for
Witnesses.


bers of the Richmond City Band was
not concluded at Glen Miller park yes
terday afternoon. The real end came
al Eighth and Main streets when the
5:45 o'clock car arrived. 1t was a
free for all fight in which several
members of the band engaged with
Harry HawOrth and John Hill COnduc-
tor and mOtOrman of the car. A coup
ling pin was welded by Haworth and
a cash about an inch and a half long
was inflicted in the scalp Of Walter
Renk, laying bare the skull. A cash
was cut in the top of HaWOrth's head
and a deep wound was inflicted on
the left side of Hills head. The ser
vices of a physician were necessary
in the case of Renk. The members
of the band, who took part in the
struggle used their instruments as
weapons.
No Policemen There.
No policemen were in sight at the
time and the men fought until dis
abed or until spectators interferred
and stopped the proceedings. Ed Nc
Nally was the first police officer to
arrive and he placed Hill and Haworth
under arrest. Both were able to give
bond last night. The argument which
precipitated the fight was caused by
the request of Rudolph Weisbrod, a
member of the band for a transfer.
Five or six of the band boys rushed
Hill and Haworth and the latter grab
bed the coupling pin and fought in
col dnf II
tention on his part to commit SER
ious assault. 1t is probable that char
ges of assault and battery will be pre-
ferred against Hill, Haworth, Renk
and one or two other members of the
band. The police were busy last night
in the effort to secure the names of
witnesses.
| According to the version of the af
fair, as related to the superintendent
of police, Haworth went to Renk and
Weisbrod and asked for their fares.
! They delayed in offering them for a
time and finally presented passes. At
the Eighth street crossing Wesbrod
asked for a transfer and Haworth de-
INJURED, claiming it is not customary
to give transfers on passes. Weis-
! brod and Haworth exchanged words
and Renk entered the conversation
with remarks not approved bv Ha-
worth. WeisbrOd and Renk had left
the car and Haworth was standing on
| the street. Hill observed the contro-
versy from his position on the front
vestibule and went to the back of the
car.
Other members Of the band who
were on the car took part in the argu-
Renk. When Hill came back one
member of the band said: I'll take
care Of this -" meaning Hill.
| Hill is small in stature but wiry and
active and without losing any time
planted a blow in the face of the in
Sulter. All the band members who
had been involved made a rush at Hill
and HawOrth. The street car men de-
Tended themselves as best they could,
but numbers were too large for them.
The band men We're using their in
struments on the heads of the carmen
and Haworth snatched a coupling pin
from the rear of the car. He began
smashing about him on all sides in a
vicious fashion and one blow caught
Renk on the head. Renk went down
and ont, with the blood flowing freely
from the wound.
Caused Excitement.
The fight created considerable con
fusion. Men, women and children
Clambered to leave the car A few
women screamed when they saw Renk
struck. The car was left standing
while the two men were taken to
headquarters. Renk was taken to the
office of DR.. Zimmerman where the
wound in his scalp was treated.
Other Arrests Probable.
Other arrests are antiCinated as the
result of the fight. The opinion OF
spectators is divided. Some hold that
Haworth was not justified in using
the piece of iron as a Delaying pin and
striking out indiscriminately. Others
assert there was nothing else for hin
10 do as he had only one chance. Sew
eral of his opponents were endeavor
ing to strike him and it was a case o
ho hit first and hardest
The coupling pin was taken to DO
lice headquarters and will be used as
an exhibit when the case comes tc
trial. On one end is blot OF blooc
from Renk's head.