The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-12-24
FREE FIGHT IN A FREIGHT CAR.
Two Of tho Participants Were Badly
Laccratcd-All Were Fined.

For breach Of the peace, james Ryan
James Clune aud Michael Ryan were bs
fore the municipal court this morning, an'
each were fined s. and costs, with jail sen
t.noes from two 10 four months, Senteno
was suspended ON payments of the. fines
the cnlpnis We're placed on probation
with orders 10 report 10 the. probation o.li
Ger at regular periods 10 be determined
by the court. The testimony Of the thru,
principals and the one witness, Pat
rick Lynch, was Of an indefinite natur
the absence OF other witnesses rendering
Judgment in the ease extremely difficult
All of the men are employed ON the gravel
trains Of the Central Vermont railroad
Monday evening, some time between !
and . o'clock. the men gathered in box
ear which has been used 10 house the
men employed in the work. this car con.
tanning a stove and several hunks. They
were drinking whiskey when the quiet
party was increased by one. james Ryan.
upon whose appearance quarrels ensued.
These finally led up TO the spectacular
events of the evening
One man in the car. Cronin by name,
had an unlimited supply Of liquid refresh
ments and these were handed out freely
more freely than was good for the men,
Finally, Clune and james Ryan mixed
things up and in the melee Clune declares
that Ryan hit him with a chisel. What
ever IL was II inflicted severe cuts, two on
the left side of the head which required
several stitches TO close them, and another
on his forehead. He got out OF the car
as best he could and made his way to the
roundhousc. where medical aid was sum.
moned. Later he went TO his home.
In the meantime Michael Ryan, who
is brother.n.law of Clune, started in TO
take revenge on James Ryan. That the
punis hment was severe was attested by
clares that while he was STOPPING over
with a lantern to hunt for the chsel
which James Ryan is supposed to have
used with such effect on Clune. james
came at him with a shovel. Before he |
could use the weapon, however, Mike |
handed him one in the jaw which placed |
lim hors de combat, stretching him on |
he floor Of the car. In both of the scuf
les the lantern was put out, so that none |
II the participants were able to tell how
hey were hit or with what. Michael
Ryan and Clune declare they used moth
ne but their fists.
James Ryan was injured so badly that
when DIR. Anderson, who was called to
lress his wounds, found him lying on the
ottom OF the car he ordered his removal
o the hospital. He received two cuts over
is right eye which required several
titches, one cut underneath the same
ptic, and his left eye was closed and
He also received cut on the
op of his head which had to be sewed
y. Michael Ryan was the only man
ho came out of the melee unscathed.
In imposing sentence, Judge Gibson
ated that all semed to be to blame and
nat he could not discriminate in favor Of 1
ny of the parties. Cune and Michael I
van were each fined IS and costs and |
ven not less than two months or more
ian Three. while James Ryan was given ,
ot less than three months or more than ,
ur William /. Daley appeared for {
lmes Ryan, while Robert c. Bacon, I
and Juror. conducted the case for the 2
ate. All pleaded guilty to the charges d
eferred against them.