Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-12
ANGRY CITIZENS OF WEBSTER
CITY SEEK vAlNLY FOR BOYS
ASSAlLANT.
LADS SKULL FRACTURED
BY BLOW FROM HAMMER
J. S. Johnson, Skating Rink Proprietor,
Hit Wrong Boy When He Sought to
Suhdue Crowd of Roisterous Young
sters-Makes Escape Thru Rear Win
dow-Now in Jail.
Special to imes-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Webster City, April 12.-The rails
ing of rear window and the prying
off of two bars, thru which he escaped,
probably saved j. S. johnson from vio-
lence at the hands of a mob in this
city late Saturday night. Johnson is
proprietor of skating rink and dur
ing an alteration struck Ralph Mertz,
hammer. Mertz, who was an inno-
cent bystander, was rendered uncon-
sctous and lay in state of coma ana
mania for three hours. An angry crowd
congregated about the rink and john
son, to save himself, locked the door
and turned out the lights. A commit
tee burst the door in and search was
made for Johnson, but he was gone
Officers We're unable to locate the man
until this morning, and he is now II
jail. With the feeling that exists, the
man is safer in custody than at lib
erty.
johnson came to Webster City from
Sioux city last fall and opened a rink
| y certain set of young toughs have
been making life miserable for the ole
man and alterations have been fire.
quent. 1t is said that this is not the
first time he has used a hammer or
some of the boys. Saturday night the
+, row started when johnson slapped g
boy named Smith, who was standing
n the lobby. Just about this time
| MertZ came into the rink He took nc
part but walked quietly over TO tht
| faucet for a drink. Smith came into the
room angrily to have it out witt
| Johnson. AS the two came together
Johnson grasped a hammer and strucl
viciously at Smith, but instead strucf
! Mertz a glancing blow on the forehead
| Mertz had the presence of anind to take
| the hammer away from Johnson, whel
| he fell in faint. Bystanders leape(
upon Johnson and before he could es-
cape he was badly pummelled.
Crowd Sought Vengeance.
| AS the crowd, which was larger THAI
! usual because 1t was Saturday night
realized that Mertz was in a serious
| condition and that the attack upoI
him was absolutely unprovoked, the!
became angry. They congregatet
about the front of the rink and for {
time it seemed as tho they would rusl
| the building. Policemen were unable Il
dispense them. They wanted johnson
and they wanted him quickly. When i
| became apparent that they would in
sist upon getting him If the police di'
not get him out of their way, Police
man Young and a committee of citi
zens burst in the door. Johnson, how
ever. had gone and no trace OF hin
could be found. A raised window at III
rear and two bars pried off evidence,
his escape Further search was mad
ali night bat no trace was found
Sunday morning Sheriff Borwn foun
johnson at his room in DR. Andrew:
residence where he was in hiding.
Young Merits condition is serious
His skull is fractured and there
grave danger of hemorrhage or con
cussion OF the brain. johnson, too, wa
badly beaten and bruised but sustaine
no serious injuries. Cries of get
rope, get a rope" We're frequent and
lynching might easily have disgrace
Webster City but for Johnson's luck
escape from the rear of the building.