The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-02-06

the fellows breaking up the meeting.
Mr.. Smith had been followed to the
platform by the policemen and the
rest Of the men who had come in with
them. All Of them now jumped on the
platform, including the chief of police,
who took me by the arm and said to
let Smith alone and shut up.
"The audience vas then shouting,
Throw him out!' and the riot was in
full swing.
II was repeatedly told to shut up"
Anderson Quoted Audience.
MI. Anderson said Chief Bingham
nor his assisting officers made not the
slightest attempt to quell the riot, but
that it was he himself who attempted
to quiet the audience. He said many
were on the stage and hat in order to
get ev~erybody's attention, he jumped
up On a table and pleaded for silence.
Prevented Bloodshed.
Il mounted a table so that my voice
could be heard and pleaded for silence,
in order to prevent ~bloodshed.
Il askel the chief to grant me ten
minutes to explain my position, for
the Grain Growers convention was
still in session as we had taken no
adjournment. Smith again told me
to shut up and asked the chief not to
give me the ten minutes.
"Mr. Bingham asked me if I couldn't
say what I wanted to say in five
minutes. and finally allowed me ten
minutes. I read President Worst's
letter again and said we would adjourn
to Assembly halls. The audience began
to leave.
Anderson Prevented Riot.
we didn't have a riot after that.
Had l appealed to the audience for
help, we would have had bloodshed,
81 was the only man there who ap-
pealed for order. I didn't see the chief
make any attempt to stop the riot. He
committed an assault on me when he
look mold OF me. He came into a
peaceful farmers meeting and caused
a riot n rough house. MANY persons
in the audience left, as they felt in
suited"
Bingham His Own Counsel,
Chief Bingham acted as his own
counsel, cross questioning each of the
witnesses. The chief put forth a line
or rapid fire ~interTogations that soon
convinced his opposition that they had
to be ON their guard in answering.
Many times during his cross-examina-
ton, Mr.. Bingham was heard to say,
Answer the question I asked" or
Answer yes or no."
One Of the main questions the chief
asked Mn. Anderson was whether or
not, he had seer Mr.. LOTUS, rush
forward at Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Grover
as they attempted to mount the plat
form. Mr.. Anderson said he had not.
"Mr. Anderson" asked the chief"
didn't you motion to the audience to
get up and yell, and also to the people
the platform to get up and yell?"
MIR. Anderson denied that he Had
such a thing.
Didn't Expect a Fuss.
Mr.. Anderson told Mn. Bingham
he saw him coming forward be-
fore he saw Mr.. LOTUS running to
the front of the platform. He said he
had not expected a fuss that night at
all, also that Sheriff Ross was IAN
other rioter in the crowd" '''
"And you will swear that I went
there that night with the intention of
a riot" asked Chief Bing-
nam. @% t - "
81 will swear that you went there
with the. people who were bent on
a riot replied the complain
INT. I will swear as often to that as
you want me to-" and he brought his
fist down hard on the table before
him.
Mr.. Anderson denied that he called |
chief vile names, but admitted that |
chief never ordered him out of the
auditorium.
.Mr. Bingham" he concluded, "could
stopped the riot if he had grab
bed Smith by the neck and demanded
hat he address the chair when I ask
ID him to-"
Rotsford Was Next.
Joseph Botsford, a Fargo resident of
years standing, was the second |
called. There were many
POINTS about Mr.. Anderson's story that
Botsford could not substantiate.
nasmuch as he admitted he could
see nor hear it all. 3&
He didn't see Mr.. Smith nor the
thief nj the others come in. All he
aid he saw was Mr.. Smith coming to-
ward the platform and attempting to
mount 1t. Someone yelled to keep off,
lie said. and Mr. Anderson asked him
vhat ne wanted and to address the
hair.
He declared Mr.. Smith told Mr.. An.
lerson to ssshut up and get OUT. And
he next thing he remembered was
hat Chief Bingham was on the plat
orn, too. Everything was then COM
both among the fellows on the
'latform and in the audience.
MI: Botsford could not tell whether
I'll he saw was the motion Of their
ips and Mr.. Bingham pull out his
Held Bingham Responsible.
He did say the chief did mot a.
hing toward stopping the riot and
absolutely responsible for
,reaking up the meeting. On his
.ross-examination MI. Botsford adj
aitted that much OF his testimonyswas
lraWn from merely conclusions as
way we do for the most part ia
his world
& MI. Botsford also stated that when