The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-09-24
SALVATION ARMY
LEADERS PULLED
Arrested Saturday Night for
Drum Beating.
CASE WILL COME UP TOMORROW
Before Justice F. D. E. Slower. G.
Bacon Will Prosecute and Schwenk
and Barber Will Defend-Complain
Alleges Disturbance Of Peace.

Persisting in beating drum after be-
ing requested by the police not to do so
resulted in two members of the Salvation
Army being placed under arrest Saturday
evening. Adjutant Howard McGrath and
Private John Peterson were placed in the
police station by Chief of Police George
Wilson charged with breach OF the
peace. After an incarceration lasting
about three-quarters of an hour the men
were allowed to go upon their own re-
cognizance. The squad under command
of Adjutant McGrath was holding meet
ing in front of the postotfice. L. Wlillam
McGrath. the fve-year-old son OF AdJu-
tant and Mrs. McGrath, was beating time
on the bass drum when his father was
taken into custody charged with creating
a disturbance Chief Wilson escorted his
prisoner across the street. to the police
station and left him., Private Peterson
continued to join in the meeting and
was apparently in command when ms SUI
perior had been removed. Chief wilson
captured him and he was held with ms
superior for short time. Meantime Mrs;
McGrath wife of the adjutant, stimulated
the rest of the army to stick to their
posts and they did so, she beating the
drum for some time after her husband was
put into the lookup.
A hearing was given the two men Sat
urday evening before Justice f. ID. =;
Stowe and the case was continued until
Monday morning. Judge A. +. Schwenk
and F. E. Barber were to appear for Ad-
iutant McGrath and Private Peterson, but
being Obliged to attend court at Newfane
AS was Justice Stowe in his capacity OF
county clerk and Grand Juror K. &. Ba-
ron no action was taken in the matter
other than to continue the case until this
afternoon or tomorrow morning at .
o'clock. Both men have demanded Jury
4 10. 81, 70
their contention that they have right to
use a drum in conducting religious meet
ing. Grand Juror Bacon will prosecute.
The complaint against the two men al
leges that they made an unnecessary nose
after sunset.
Undaunted by the arrest of the Two
members of the army Saturday evening
the usual Sunday evening meeting was
held though no attempt was made to use
the drum. Adjutant McGrath had been
asked previously by the police department
not to use the drum in holding his meet
ings and for time did as requested. MI.
McGrath told Reformer reporter that
he had received several offers from mem,
bers of the local legal fraternity to defend
him and Private Peterson. He SAID that
after he was escorted to the police station
Saturday evening "a large crowd congre-
gated and the size of the collection taken
M indicated that the people were with
the Salvation Army in its troubles at this
time
The arrests are the outgrowth OF the
friction that became manifest between the
village authorities and the Salvation Army
after the former had asked the army to
refrain from beating its bass drum on the
corner of Main and Elliot streets because
of the illness of person in one of the
nearby buildings. Over 80 complaints have
been made against Adjutant McGrath. He
has been notified that his small son OF five
years must appear at the hearing.