Omaha daily bee., 1912-08-31
STAR TAKEN FROM BELLMAN
Testimony Shows He Left Fellow
Officers to Their Fate in Fight.
BOTH KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS
Woman Who Danced Bear Cat With
Discharged officer Admits She
Hit Policeman over the Head
with Beer Bottle.

After hearing the evidence and deliber-
ating for less than minute the city
commission voted unanimously to dismiss
Patrolman Ike Bellman from the service
for conduct unbecoming an officer.
Tho charges against Bellman were that
he danced the bear cat with Mrs. Ed
Porter at Neilsen's park Sunday and in
riot that broke up the dance he refused
70 properly assist two fellow officers,
Patrolmen white and Timm, who were
beaten unconscious by mob.
Patrolmen White and Timm and their
wives testified, the evidence showing that
Bellman. while on duty. took off his he'll
met and danced what Mrs. White called
the '.moochy." She didn't know II 1t was
the bear cat. Mrs. Timn said they were
not dancing like the others"
Beilman testified 1t wasn't the bear cat
and J. L. Haley, his attorney. sought to
show that the apparent vulgarity Of their
dancing was due to the fact that they
were fat, but Mrs. Tnm said other big
dancers didn't wiggle around like Bell
man.
Mr.. Porter testified In Bellman's behalf.
Other witnesses who testified for Bellman
were Bill Tracy, Jacob Crounse. Abe
singer. Frank Alias, Frank oberman.
II appeared from the evidence that
Patrolman White called Mrs. Porter for
dancing the bear cat and told her she had
to cut 1t out. White said when Bellman
danced 1t he didn't feel like he ought to
call him down on the floor. but intended
70 speak to him about II after the dance.
officer Dances Bear Cat.
In the meantime one OF the officers
wives said: Whats the use of White
trying TO prevent them dancing the bear
cat here when Bellman dances IT," Bell
man was on duty at the dance. but
White and Ttmm were there in plain
closaes, although they carried their
guns and biIlles.
Mrs. Porter, angered at White for
calling her down. went to her husband
and declared she had been insulted.
Beilman and Porter were standing with
out the dance pavilion and Porter mo-
toned White to come to him When
White came up Porter struck him and
the riot began.
Officer Timn attempted to quell the
disturbance He whacksd Porter over
the head and ripped the shot out of the
billy. Then Tracy and Timm mixed.
rolled down the hill and left White TO
his fate.
A woman. the same being Mrs. Porter,
according to the woman herself. struck
White with beer bottle. Somebody hit
him In the eye. He was knocked halt
conscious and staggering under the blows
Of the infuriated dancer drew his gun
and stood at bay.
Bellman had disappeared. His wit
nesses testified that somebody had yelled
that murder was being committed down
the Hill and Bellnan had run down the
hill. Another said man yelled bloody
murder and Beliman run up the hill
After the riot Bellman placed Porter,
Mrs. Porter and Tracy under arrest.
White and Timm had been beaten into
insensibility by men and women with
pop and beer bottles. Bellman said hi
Ndebated little while as 10 whether he
should release the three he had arrested
land summon them to appear next day
E hut decided the case was too serious and
q called the patrol.
Mrs. Porter was not allowed to testify
Kaley wanted her to tell what White had
said 10 her, but the mayor ruled that
Bellfnan and not White was on trial.