South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-16
CITE LEADERS OF BIG
RIOT INTO COURT
CONTINUED FROM PAGE oNE)


assailants, who met them with heavy
pickets torn from a fence surrounding
the parish. A veritable rain OF
pickeJs filed the air, striking down
as many of the attackers as attacked
Step by step the police fought their
way 10 the front OF the parish house
Finally Capt. SchOck and Detective
Kuespert reached the gate To find it
wired fast and guarded by two wO-
men, one Mrs Niedbalski. 1t took the
combined efforts of the two officers
10 dislodge the women from their po-
sition. In the struggle a picket was
sent flying at Kuespert, missed him
and struck the woman on the head.
Mrs. Nledbalski denies she was
struck by a picket. but claims a
policeman hit her. She declared she
took no part in the melee
After the police had cleared a pass
age 10 the curb, the taxicab with
Father Gruza and three detectives
moved UP. Hardly had it stopped
when heavy bar whizzed through
the air, struck the chauffeur soluarelv
on the jaw knocking him senseless
for moment and from the wheel
In another instant a picket was sent
crashing through the glass front
scattering glass over Detective Reed
cutting him severely. The chauffeur
recovered and ran his car on a few
yards further. then stopped and pro-
ceeded to back up again TO the curb.
Pistols Are Fired.
This maddened the church men to
a fury and pistol shot rang out. fol-
lowed shortly by two more. 1t is be-
lieved these were meant for Father
Gruza, but all went wild. The crowd
had now packed itself about the auto.
Cries of xiii him." Shoot him." etc
were heard on all sides.
The officers looked over the scene
and realized that to attempt to escort
the priest from the auSO would mean
instant death. Chief Kuespert is
firmly convinced that had Father
Gruza stepped from the taxi he would
Immediately have been met by a hail
Of bullets. Kuespert said he saw at
least five men close to the taxi whom
he believed were armed and ready TO
shoot the moment Father Gruza ap-
peared. II was then that the driver
was ordered to take the priest back
to st. Hedwige'S parish.
One of the hottest places during the
melee was at the porch of the parish
Officers Kuespert and Schock stood
there giving orders under a steady
rain Of fence pickets. Capt. Bunker
also did valiant duty here while time
and again he was picked out as tar
get. An effort TO knife Bunker was
perhaps frustrated by Kuespert and
SchOck oVerhearing the remark. A
guard was quickly placed about him.
A man rushed up with q huge loaded
club and attempted To strike down
Bunker. Like a leech he chung to the
club and only after beaten half in
sensible did he release his hold upon
the weapon.
In the meantime the parish house
was the target for pickets. bricks and
rocks. Not a window or door was
left after the battle. All had been
shattered by the continuous fusillade.
Once a huge post was ripped from the
ground and in the hands Of a half
dozen men was rammed through the
front door an attempt being made TO
smash an officer with ii, but he es-
capped.
Kuespert and Bunker were marked
men throughout the fight and that
they escaped unframed was COnsid-
cred miraculous. Sheriff Swanson
also came In for few threats.
Crowd Greets Sheriff.
The first sign that serious trouble
hour Sheriff Swanson, his deputy,
Artie Gamble. and another deputy
from the Reed detective agency, ar
rived with Father GruZa TO escort
him to the parish house. This was
per circuit court order from Judge
Funk. Already a mob OF several hun
dred had gathered about the door
of the house. Swanson and the dep
uties alighted and escorted Father
Gruza to the gate. Here the crowd
surrounded them and began pushing
back. Swanson saw that with his two
men it would be impossible to gain
entrance, SO escorted his charge back
Il, 4 %
quarters for aid.
Chief Kerr soon had wires busy and
summoned all available men to duty
at once. Forty men were rounded up
and the march begun TO the parish
house. Before the little army had
reached within two blocks OF the
house. scouts had carried the news
back and the church bell called out
the throng.
Trouble Starts i'm June.
II brief the history Of the trouble
is as follows: In June. 1913, Father
Valentine CZyZewski, pastor Of st.
Hedwige's, died. Father Zubowicz,
pastor of St. Cashiers, was transfer
red to st. Hedwige's. Father BOniface
IwasZewski was sent 10 St. Cashiers
but remained only three months, re-
signing on account of i'll health. In
October of 1913, Father Miecislaus
Szalewski was appointed 10 succeed
Father WISCONSIN. me pdTlSnOLeIS
objected TO him and he was with
drawn at their request. Then mass
meeting was held at Warsaw hall ana
the Pensioners sent a petition 70
Bishop Alerding at Ft Wayne. which
is said virtually to have been an ulu-
matum. it declaring that they would
have no other priest than Father Leo
SZybowicz, who was assistant to Father
Zubowicz This was denied and
Father SzvbOWicZ was sent to Oregon.
Father Gruza was then appointed to
the parish on Jan. IS of this year.
on Jan. q he attempted 10 gam
access to the parish house and again
on Jan. "a, but each time il is al
legged he was prevented by parishon-
ers who were guarding. on the night
Of IAN. % he again attempted to en-