The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-08-23
MOFFETT''GOES
OYER TOP MOB
BEATS AUTHOR
Writer Protests When Pro-
Irish Speaker Calls Him
"Un-American."
RESCUED, HE RETURNS
Foes Stop Pounding Him to
Cheer Flag, Then Thump
Him Anew.

Cleveland Moffett. magazine writer
and crusader against soap box oratory.
went over the top" last night In a
one man charge on a street meeting OF
the Friends of Irish Freedom, In Thirty
seventh street, between Broadway and
Sixth avenue. He precipitated = near
riot. in which 1000 men. women and
urchins Joined. When It was all over
the writer had been severely beaten. but
was still militant.
For ten minutes. before the fashllght
system Of tho Police Department called
and fve stations had time to rush up
their reserves. the street mob kicked,
pounded and bruised the literary
crusader, tore his clothing and created
the widest scene that the section had
known for years.
Boston Mayors Niece There.
The meeting of the Friends Of Irish
Freedom was scheduled for o'clock. AT
that hour Stephen johnson. national or
ganiler; William O'Laughlin, Shane
Conway and Miss Margaret Curley.
niece OF the Mayor Of Boston, appeared
at the speakers stand.
An afternoon paper had announced
that Moffett had made Up his mind ITO
10 over the top" when the meeting be-
gan, and hundreds Of persons were at
! tracted by the promise Of militant ac-
! tivities. Not one Of the expectant spec
tators suffered the slightest disappoint-
ment
Across the street from the speakers
stand Moffett stood in the doorway OF
3. Karten & Bros furniture store.
With him were United States Marshal
Thomas d. Mccarthy. stenosraphsr.
| two plain clothes policemen and a
! stenographer who came up from the
office Of ehe Police Commissioner. An
extra police honor guard. consisting OF
| Inspector James Bolan. Capt. William
A. Bailey and Lieut.. Weeks. hung about
| the fringes of the crowd and listened
| to the chat.
This 10 the first time in my life"
aail Stephen johnson, opening the ball,
| that ever said a good word for Mayor
| Mitchell, but I am glad to say that he
has come out for free speech in spite
| Of the strong influences that have been
brought to bear against U.S.
Praises Comm iss ioner Woods.
| Johnson praised Police Commissioner
Woods for refusing to interfere with
public meetings. referred at first rather
innocently to Cleveland Moffett and
then said that 1t had been reported that
Mr.. Moffett had selected the evening as ar
appropriate time to go over the top
II don't know what he meant by
that" said the speaker, unless he mean,
| going over like the soldiers do. and
! they generally 20 over backward
Then he called Mr.. Moffett a one cen,
magazine writer who was making a
three cent a word contract" ard said
that any persons who had come to an
Irish meeting expecting to hear sed!tior
preached would be disappointed. Hs
called attention to the conduct OF the
Sixty-ninth Regiment as the first of oui
| troops to start for France from the
National Guard and added:
but II I was in the War Department
I would send some OF the soldierA tc
England to chase some OF the slackeri
to the firing line"
Then he let loose the reference which
started Moffett on his charge
1.-THE presence OF this big crowd" sait
johnson. "and It's enthusiasm and fai
play. and the orderly manner In whici
II behaves shows the true spirit o
America and Its attitude toward fre,
speech Compare II with the attitude
OF Cleveland Moffett. and your spiri
makes his spirit damned un-American.
From the recesses Of the furniture
doorway a dark figure came into th'
street.
II am Cleveland Moffett," he shouted
The crowd, waiting for something 4
start, yelled with combined derision ant
slee. Women Joined the men In lou,
groans at the mention Of the name.
II object to being called un-Ameri