The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-25
CORONER CLEARS GUARDS IN FATAL
 RIOT AT ANSOMl lA
Mix Holds That Striker Who Was Shot Down During Outbreak At Ansonia Manufacturing Go. Plant Game to Death At Hands of "Person Unknown"

No Criminal Act, Says Find
 ing, Which Declares That
 Victim Was Among Strik-
 CTS Who Opened Fire on
 the Factory From Barri-
 cade of Building materials
 New. Haven, May 25-The death of Charles Lalco, a strik- CT, who was fatally shot during a strike riot at the factory of the Ansonia Manufacturing Go. at Ansonia last Thursday, was due to "a gunshot wound in. flicted upon him by some per son unknown" according to the finding of Coroner Eli Mix, made public today
 The coroner finds that in or der to protect themselves and the property of the company Ansonia police officers and spe- cial officers in the building fir ed from windows of the factory building during the rioting, that the bullet which inflicted the wound upon Lalco was fired by an officer from a second story window but the coroner was unable to determine which of the officers fired the shot. The coroner adds:
 ''I am also of the opinion said death was not caused by the criminal act, omission or. carelessness fof a1fy person
 La1co died at the Griffin hospita1 in the rioting. lie was 30 years old and lived in Ansonia-
 The finding, continuing says:
 Deceased was an emp1oye of the Ansonia Manufacturing Go. Since, May II, 1916, g large number of en- strike. Numerous meetings have been held by them and several conferences have occurred between a committee of their fellow workmen appeared be- fore them and general manager of the Ansonia Manufacturing Go. in an | agreement to future wages, working hours, etc< Threats had been made by some of the said employees to wreck said factory building and prevent employees who desired to work from entering said factory and several of the female ern- p1oyes having been assaulted, a num- Der of special officers appointed by the mayor of Ansonia, were placed in and about said factory building to prevent damage and to afford protec- ton for those who desired to work therein. Several police officers of An sonia were detailed by the chief of police to patrol the vicinity wherein said factory is located and assist in protecting it and to preserve the pub lie peace
 About noon, Thursday, May 1 8, 1916, a large number of said employees, estf- gathered in the vicinity of said man ufacturfng company's building and while there two women in the employ of said company r-rurning to work were assaulted by some of the strik- ing employees in an endeavor to keep them from returning to work. Sey- eraI of the Ansonia@ police, observing this. went to the aid of the girls and while endeavoring to protect them were assaulted with stones and fired on with revolvers containing loaded bullets Said stones and said bullets being discharged at them Dy some oA said striking employees, said officers were forced to retire inside said fac tory.
 asouite a number of said striking erauIoyes barricaded themselves be- hind bouIders building and other material which were upon a. vacant lot upon the so1therly side of said a,.1f4dfne and discharged a fusilade of stones and bullets from revolvers at said officers while they were retreat ing towards said building and at and into said building, shattering large number of window panes upon said eoutherIy side of said building ana greatly endangering the lives Of those who were in said building.
 @In order to protect themselves and the property of the said nanufac- turing company and the lives of the working employees within said build ing. said special officers and said An sonia. police officers discharged quite a. number of bullets from revolvers -held by them from the windows on said southerIy side of said building. Concealed behind some building ma terial upon said vacant land was de- ceased and while said bullets were being discharged from said revolvers4 bv the striking employees and said special officers and said Ansonia po- nee officers ne received bullet l1pon the left side of the neck, the bullet cutting the jugu1ar vein and passing through the spine Deceas-
 (Continued on Page D