The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-09-25
MOB TOOK DRUNK
AWAY FROM 4
OFFICERS
Disgraceful Episode on Main
Street Saturday Night
STRUCK CHIEF BRAZELL
Gang Prevented Chief From Arrestlng
Patrick kerns Who Was Drunk
and Dlsorderly


There was a small-sized riot on
Main street Saturday evening brought
about by a crowd of men and youths
who succeeded in rescuing a drunken
man from the local police officers who
were attempting to put the intoxica-
ted individual in jail. In the scram-
BILE Chief of Police Patrick Brazil was
hit over the head with a billy"
making a scalp wound that required
the services of physician.
Patrick kerns, a laborer living on
County street, was the initial cause
of the riot, He had been in the Put
nam House bar drinking during the
evening, and when the closing hour,
10 o'clock, arrived he had taken
enough liquor SO that he was drunk
and noisy. Two of the special Off
GERS who are on duty Saturday nights,
Richard Hurley and Joseph Murphy,
ATTEMPTED to start Kerns toward home
and had made some progress with the
man over West Main street. Kerns
was not inclined to go peaceably and
Chief of Police Brazil came to the as
slstance of the specials. Kerns be-
came balky and the chief and Officer
Murphy started to take the man to
jail
The officers took Kerns across the
street but when the man reached the
walk at a point near the Lyons barber
shop he threw himself on the side.
walk and began to call for assistance
A crowd estimated by some OF the
witnesses at several hundred at once
hocked around the two officers. The
officers we're unable to make any pro
gress with Kerns through the mob
One of the rioters secured possession
OF Special Officer William f. Ashtons
billy" with which he hit the chief
over the head A stone was also
thrown at the chief. The blow he
received temporarily dazed Brazil and
the crowd dragged Kerns to his feet
and hustled him home.
No arrests were made Saturday
night States Attorney w. j. Meagh
er issued warrant Immediately after
the occurrence lor Patrick Kerns and
placed the paper in the hands of Spec
ial officer Hurley. Other warrants
were issued.
AS is usual in occurrences OF this
nature II is somewhat difficult to OBJ
tain direct evidenc, Of the actual hap
penings. The whole AFFAIR lasted but
few minutes and the crowd dispers
ed at once after 1t had succeeded in
taking Kerns out of the hands OF the
officers.
Officer Hurley stated this morning
that II was impossible for him to make
a way through the crowd and give any
assistance 10 Chief Brazil and Officer
Murphy. The only method that would
have availed in his opinion, would
have been to have used his stick in
discriminatory on the heads of the RI
oters anu he did not wish to take such
step i'm the case OF man who was
merely unruly because of intoxication
Officer Ashton, IL is reported, was
not at the scene of the riot when II
started, but was on North street He
was attracted by the gathering of the
crowd and hurried to the scene. II
was while Officers Brazil and Muir
ply were attempting to put Kerns on
his feet and take him TO jail that Ash
tons stick was taken away from him
and used In assaulting the chief.
Chief of Police Brazil stated this
morning that he was in front of Go
kay's store on Main street when he
noticed that something unusual was
happening in the vicinity of the Put
nam House. lie at once crossed the
street TO the north side where OH.
GERS Hurley and Murphy were at
tempting to induce Kerns to go home.
AZ that time the two officers and the
intoxicated man were just opposite the
First National bank. The two spec.
als, the chief stated, were having
some trouble with Kerns who had be-
gun to object to the proceedings.
Kerns at first expressed willingness
to 90 along with Brazil but later be-
came stubborn and began to use foul
language. He became so unruly that
officer Brazil turned his man about
and with officer Murphy's assistance
began to take Kerns across the
street in the direction OF the jail.
Kerns resisted while being taken
across the street. He braced his feet
and Il was necessary for the officers
TO slide the man along on the soles OF
his shoes.
When the three reached the OPP
posite sidewalk they found number
Of young men either sitting on the
Putnam House verandah or standing
on the walk. James Kerns, n son OF
the man under arrest, was one OF
hem and he at once called out for
assistance to help take his father out
II the hands of the officers. Several
IF the young men joined In the argu-
nent and big crowd gathered almost
Chief Brazil says that a
young man, n stranger, who was
standing on the hotel yerandah punch
I'd him In the neck and the officer hit
him on the side of the face with his
hub. The officer also struck another
nan who was standing directly In
'front.'. Then Il was that the blow
,ver the head with officer Ashton's |
stick so dazed Brazil that the men In
he crowd were able to drag Kerns
over the walk put him on his feet and
hustle him away.
Officer Brazil stated that Kerns did
lot throw himself on the walk but
hat he was tripped by the officer af-
Ter he had attempted to hit Brazil ]
with his fist.
onicer Brazil was too thoroughly |