The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-09-23
Attempt to Clamp the Lid on WeIIston
on Sunday is Not Rel
ished by The
Gang.
TURNED OTHER CHEEK
When Mayors Hat Was Knocked Off
He Called Out Loudly for
AssaiIant to Try It
Again.


ed assassination of Mayor Charles ].
Roberts of Wellston last Sunday
night by an unidentified person. first
became known yesterday. A half
brick was hurled at Roberts head
from dark corridor or window at
Henry Burns saloon, 6201 Derby
avenue, striking his hat and knocking
IT from his head, according to Roberts.
Had the brick hit his head it is
thought death OF serious injury would
have resulted. The assault was the
outgrowth of Mayor Roberts attempt
to put the lid on In Wellston Sunday.
The mayor said yesterday:
For some time | have received
numerous complaints about the lid be-
ing off in Wellston, and have repeat
edly asked the Wellston officers to
assist me making the saloon keepers
obey the law They have failed to
do SO, and once / caught two of the
deputy marshals drinking beer in a
saloon. These deputies denied they
We're drinking in the saloon when
brought before the City council, and
that body refused to discharge them,
ALTHOUGH had placed charges against
them.
Il decided to take the matter into
my own hands Sunday left home
shortly after dark Sunday night and
went to the saloon of George Marshall
Easton avenue and Wellston place |
W. ~ Il Al Il a
the saloon without interference. Mar
shall was behind the bar himself and
there were several men in the saloon
| knew. I called Marshall aside and
told him he would have I'd aaose up.
He did I then visited saloon at
1909 Morton avenue and found it
closed
1T was about 10 p. m when I got
to Burns saloon The saloon was
dark but saw lights upstairs and
saw several men coming down the
stairs leading to the second floor. |
saw my chance and started for the
stairs. l was stopped by man, who
demanded that not go upstairs, say
I ing | had no right there | told him
4
that I was the mayor ana was going
i to find out what was doing. He step.
! ped out of my way, but when | started
] on up the stairs a second man tried
4 to trip me. | jumped over his foo.
/ and hurried up, but when | reached
/ the landing the room vas deserted
4 with the exception of two men, who
d 10 he no i,,F1 ~
liquor and were apparently asleep
4 Beer bottles were strewn about the
/ floor and several bottles of beer, not
I opened, were on large ice box.
II went downstairs, where I met
Burns. l told him I wanted him tc
keep his place closed on Sunday. He
! said that he would when the rest OF
the saloon keepers closed Severa1
4 other men were standing about
Il started away and had gone but q
I few steps when | heard some one say
get him., and just as turned
around a brick struck the brim of my
/ straw hat, knocking it from my head
The men had disappeared, and SAID
! in loud voice, Come on out and dc
that again l think the brick was
thrown from a window, but am MOI
sure"
Burns says he did not see the bricl
hurled at the mayor and said that he
did not think it was thrown from his
building.
While Rev. Irl R. Hicks was mayor
of Wellston the city executive hat
control of the police. He had righ
to hire and fire them, or make an!
change he desired Shortly afte
Judge G. A. Wurdeman of Clayton
circuit court declared Roberts mayo
of Wellston, the Wellston city council
took all authority over the police
away from the mayor and placed i
in the hands of the council Robert
saws that the police will not work il
harmony with him He also says b.
! has ordered Marshal l. D Morgan t.
get out and work, instead of sittinl
around the Office all day, and has toll
him about one marshal and fou
deputies patroling the whole of Alton
Illinois.