Devils Lake weekly world., 1911-08-18
AFFAIR WHICH STARTED DUE TO
FACTIoNAL STRIFE HAS CAUS-
ED SENSATION.
GORDON WAS BEATEN BUT 1T
WAS SHOWN THAT HE BUTTED
1N-FIGHT IS WARM.
Election Approaches in the City Across
the Red From Grand Forks and the
Little Legal Battle is the Starter for
More Sensations to Follow-Situa-
tion Will Be Watched.

Grand Forks, Nd, Aug.:l6-Chie:
! of Police Sullivan of East Grand Fork
was found not guilty in the trial befor,
Judge Sullivan in which he was accus
ed OF assault on his patrolman, JOIN
Gordon. The affair arose from faction
al strife which has been running ram
pant in East Grand Forks and has
brought out many sensations.
The case Of the State of AIinnesot;
vs.. Chief of Police P j. Sullivan
charged with assault and battery, was
opened yesterday morning at 10 'clocE
in the city hall. \ number of witness
es were called on The stand to testify
in regard to the happening on Sunday
morning, July so, when ex-Oflicer Cord
on and the chief of police became mix
ed in more than Il wordy battle.
The two witnesses of yesterday morn.
ing were the complaining witness, John
Gordon. and John Hanson. Gordon IS
testimony was to the effect that Sulli-
van had started to talk politics and ac-
cuSed him of not being true to the "O'-
Leary faction.'' He also stated that
Sullivan had struck him as he was
walking away from him.
One Of the incidents of the trial
was the evidence submitted III regard
to an effort at settlement. In answer
to a question of one of the attorneys,
Gordon stated that he had been ap,
preached by City Clerk James German
and Alderman James Culliton, who, he
alleges, told him that it twas all set
tied and that it was now all up to
him.
John Hanson, bartender at the A.
o. Lystad saloon, told of being il the
saloon cleaning up after the closing
hour when he heard two men talking
outside of the place. He went to the
door and saw Officer Gordon, Chief of
Police Sullivan and Neil Norman. Sui
livan and Gordon were doing the talk
ing and from what he heard the chief
was accusing his subordinate Of being
untrue to his political faction. Sulli-
van alleged to have asked why Gordon
didn t say something about the o 'Leary
faction and Gordon replied that is
''wasn't t his business and he WASH It
saying anything" According to Han
son, Sullivan is quoted as saying "that
was just it.' The head of the police
department is then quoted as saying
that the policeman had been standing
in with certain disreputable characters.
This brought forth denials, and Sulli-
van is said to have called Gordon
liar. Gordon returned the compliment
and started to walk away and had prob.
ably gone two steps, when Sullivan
was after him and hit him, cutting the
lip and blackening one eye Of the pa
trolman.
Hanson testified that he had rushed
out to stop the men from fighting and
that while he was doing so he received
blow on the cheek from Sullivan IS
wrist. He also described the positions
OF the men during the various stages
of the quarrel and also told of blood
from Gordon IS cuts being spattered on
both himself and the chief of police.
Hanson stated further that Gordon
made no attempt to strike his chief, nor
did he do so. County Attorney Hagen,
who is prosecuting the case, after sew
eral objections from the counsel for
the defense, Attorney H. A. Bronson,
gained from the witness the statement
that Sullivan had said that he would
fire Gordon in the morning,