The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-12-19

gether, dancing, singing anu uakInB merry. When the commotion started later, I saw the negroes being lined up together, and I went into the bil- Hard room and sat upon pool table.
 q saw Texas go to the rear of the club and fire two shots outdoors, and then saw him go to the front hall and fire two more shots. A Hull followed, and then an effort began to get every body outside. I was one of the first at the door, and Texas grabbed me.
 "'You're going to get out of here now" he said to me, and showed me out into the front hall. He didn't fire at me. I got out into Water street, and started up toward the railroad station.
 "On my way met @ policeman, and he said Throw up your hands, which I did. I had hardly done SO, when another policeman from behind gave me the same command, and l was about to turn around to look at him when he fired shot that hit me in the back. I know he was po- liceman> because when looked around I saw him clearly"
 Efforts were made to shake Pannill in his story, before his death, but he repeated on each occasion his claim that a policeman had shot him, and high officials of the department be- ueye his assertion. The .S2 calibre bullet which killed the man was found in his clothing, and is held by the police as an important bit or evl- dence.
 The public has been stunned by the rapidity with which political leaders have repudiated Baby Doll" The Water street den of iniquity scuttled by the rampage of Thomas and his as- sociates, and the, reeking foTlness or the resort exposed to the public, those who are alleged to have tolerated and protected" it's existence are seeking cover.
 William E. Seeley, whom Thomas asserted he wanted to see before he would surrender to the police. admits the defendant in the murder case did work for the Republican party and paid out of his own pocket the ex- penses of registering and getting out the negro vote. But according to Seeley, Thomas was not asked to do this, the Republican leaders and es- pecially he (Seeley), was opposed to Thomas.
 County Commissioner Ballard as- serts that several months ago King sent him. a letter telling Ballard to re- yoke the license and close. the place. The public today are asking why this action was not taken if King ordered it. Ballard then proceeds in his statement to blame the police for starting the trouble.
 It is evident from his statements that he believes the police had no right to visit the place and arrest Thomas for knocking an unknown white man down stairs and then kick ing him brutally in the face as he lay on the floor. The police should have remained inactive until the county commissioners carried out Kings or der to revoke the club license, from Ballard's s. statement
 The purest police commissioner John T.Stanley, is conspicuous by his silence.
 Police Superintendent John T. Red- gate emerged from his shell long enough to deny that he knew Thomas was running gambling den; he did not know that white men and women danced, sang, drank and participated at orgies in the place which opened at midnight and closed at dawn. Red gate did not know that cabaret was in progress at the club; that a number of colored women each night enter tained the morally perverted habitues ! by dances which outraged even the 1 waning decency of the spectators. ''If Redgate did not know that such an establishment existed he should be removed from office," assert many officials
 The spectacle of the superintend. ent of the Bridgeport police force standing behind telegraph pole and begging a man who headed a band o1 negroes that were trying to shoot DO. lice officers. to please come out of his fortress and surrender, was indeed ridiculous, He refused to allow DO. licemen to fire back through the win. dows. The life of Thomas was prec. l ious," asserted a prominent man who witnessed the affray.
 T have been trying ever since the fracas to determine whether Redgatt is a person who is superintendent of 6 i real honest-to-g goodness police force O, 1 an old woman's home" One police official today stated tha
 Texas" was the only man to hay, been seen to fire a gun in the club and that. only two guns known or sup posed to have been used by person within have been found. Neither O. these is a .32 caliber, one being al army .45 Colt automatic, and the oth CT @ .88 Colt.
 [ It was stated that not all police men, however, observe the rules O the department so far as to carry 8; guns, and that some carry none a