Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-07-27
COUNCIL GIVES
TRUE STORY OF
MT. UNION RIOT
Borough Authorities Investi-
gate Trouble and Put Affair
in the Proper Light

Mount Union. Pa, July 27.-At a
special meeting of the council called
by President Appleby to investigate
the mob violence OF Wednesday eve-
ming, it developed that the cause of
the violence was due to a false re-
port being circulated by mischievous
and evil-disposed persons to the effect
that a Mr.. Waters. arrested the night
before. had died from blows received
by him and administered by the po-
liceman. 1t became known that these
reports had been circulated that aft
ernoon and the council endeavored to
ascertain the facts of the arrest and
assault and the outcome OF the in
juries.
Burgess A. S. welch was present
and stated what he knew of the ac-
tion of the mob the night previous
and there were various officers and
citizens called to give their testimony
in regard to the arrest, assault and
the mob violence.
Policeman Striver was called and
sworn. and said, that on the evening
of the arrest he and the two other
officers were standing at the Division
street subway. when two young men
above the age of twenty-one years
drove down the street at a very rapid
pace. There were a great many pea
pie crossing the street below the sub
way. almost in front of the horse and
buggy. on their way to the Buffalo
Bill show. The street being crowded.
officer Wahl raised his hand as the
team came up and asked the young
men to check their speed, which they
did for a moment, but when they had
gone past they used language which
is not fit for newspaper print to the
officers and whipped their horse with
the lines. The conveyance. rushed
down the street and a woman cross
ing the street was almost run down
by the horse and buggy. Officer
Striver told Officer Wahl TO arrest the
men. Wahl mounted his horse, caught
up with them and placed them under
arrest They got out of the buggy,
Officers Striver and Tanney starting
with them toward the lookup. Officer
Wahl taking the horse and buggy to
a livery stable.
The prisoners were taken up Divi-
sion street through the subway and
when opposite the Pennsylvania Rail-
road station Waters struck Officer
Striver a heavy, blow on the neck
which knocked him partly down. but
Officer Striver did not strike back.
He then struck Officer Tanney, who
hit him with his mace, making a
scalp wound, from which he bled pro-
fusely. They then proceeded up to
Shirley street, when young Waters
went into an epileptic fit, to which
he was subject No blows were struck.
however, and his brother told the Of
ficers to let him lay where he had
fallen and that he would come to
himself in a short time, which was
done. after which they were taken on
to the lookup.
DR.. Gregory. who dressed his
wounds, was called and sworn and
stated that he dressed the wound of
the injured man and that it required
three stitches to bring the skin to-
gether where ii was cut on his head,
but the skull was not fractured and
that in the evening between and 8
o'clock Waters and his mother came
into the office to have the wound
dressed again. the doctor stating that
the mans condition was normal. with
the exception of the wound. which
was healing nicely.
Burgess Welch discharged the Wa
ters boys the same evening of the
arrest upon the condition that they
appear last evening for hearing.
Joe Heidle was sworn and stated
that the Waters boys have a repu-
tation for fast driving.
william StfdtIord was sworn ana
testified to the fast driving OF the
boys down Division street and that
officer Wahl had tried to stop them
but they checked their horse for
moment and after they had gone past
used vile language to him and
whipped their horse and came very
near running over a woman crossing
the street on her way to the show
officer Wahl was sworn and stated
that the Waters boys came down the
street at a great pace and that he
tried to check them. which they did
until they. Were past, when they