The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1915-10-22
RIOT AND BLOODSHED
IN CHARLESTON POLITICS.
CONTINUED from page u


tain challenged voters. He said that
there was heavy movement of the
men in the anteroom to the commit
tee room. He did not know who fired
the shots.
Conrad Slender, member of the
executive committee, described the
fight as follows:
al was in the hall at the meeting
of the executive committee when the
shooting started. 1t started in the
hallway and apparently a shot wa>
fired into the committee room. I'm
mediately there was great confusion,
several shots and present fusillade
of shots. Almost Immediately saw
a man named Brothers, who is known
to be Grace partisan, advancing to-
wards Committeeman Mcdonald.
stood up and waved him back, saying,
Stop Then there was fusillade of
shots fired and / saw one man in a
window on the east side of the room.
with three or four men crowding him.
While this was going on saw Chief
Cantwell come up with his pistol in
his hand and fire shot at this mans
head. In the confusion 1 did not rec
ognize the man. I saw no pistol in
his hand. Why the man was not hit
l do not know. So far as 1 know it
missed him. While 1 was watching
this someone struck me on the head
with club from behind. I was dazeo
somewhat and subsequently had to go
to my home, but Just remember see.
ing Policeman Lafourcade come up
with a pistol pointed and I grabbed
his hand and said: Man, for Gods
sake don't shoot l scarcely remem-
ber any more, being in somewhat &
dazed condition. l went home and lay
down."
John ]. Healy said that he was at
the executive committee room, King
and George streets. 81 was there as
watcher" he said, "in Mayor Hyde's
interest, stationed there with several
others. was standing at the door
between the two rooms, when Capt.
Black ordered everybody except COM
mitteemen to get out of the front
room. Renters came out with Maxy
Goldman behind him. While O'Brien
started to strike Maxy Goldman and
Renters told him he was too small
for him to strike. Then Renters and
O'Brien started to get into an argu-
ment and Frank Hogan started to
argue with him. William Wingate
then caught Renters from the back
with his arm around Renters neck.
I caught Wingate's arm and told him
to turn Renters loose. When Rem
tiers turned around Harry Wilenski
took a pistol out of Renters back
pocket and they all hollered, Arrest
him. and Sergt. Quinn took him off.
Then the commotion started in the
door. Fosberry and Frank Hogan
started to abuse me and in the con-
fusion Chief Cantwell took a pistol out
of my pocket. l had the pistol as a
deputy constable, appointed by Sheriff
Martin.
Says Chief Shot.
"The shooting started in the door,
and Chief Cantwell and Mr.. Turner
Logan came in with drawn guns
pointing inside. begged them not
to shoot. Mr.. Logan put his gun
down, but Chief Cantwell fired shot
at Henry Brown, while several were
holding Brown. 1 think Mr.. Robson
grabbed Chief Cantwell's hand with
pistol and begged him not to shoot"
He said that two hours later ne was
ordered under arrest by Mayor Grace
and Chief Cantwell for carrying con-
cealed weapons. Healy put up a cash
bond of $40 and was released late last
night.
Joseph D. Hiott was present at the
meeting of the executive committee
to testify in behalf of his brother,
George A. Hiott, whose vote had been
challenged.
"Mr. Black, the chairman" said Mr..
Hiott, "asked the police department
to see that everybody was put out of
the room except the executive con-
mittee. / stepped just outside of the
doorway back into the room from the
executive committee room. My two
brothers were with me- AS / did this
I saw a young man from the navy
yard, named George Renters; two
men were cursing him. One was big
Wingate. They grabbed hold of hin,
and then a policeman grabbed him
about the neck and they arrested Rem
tiers. ] never saw Renters rise
They carried him out of the room. A
minute or so later the shooting began
The shooting was in the room. I car
not say who the men were who shot
but did see policeman in uniform
shoot. He shot four or five shots
through the doorway into the commit
tee room. After that there were sc
many shots that I and my brothers
went out. In trying to get out some
one hit me-"
Only city policemen were on guard
at the executive committee hall or
King street when the fatal shooting