Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-31
CHESTER NORMAL,
AGAIN, SAYSMAYOR
No Further Rioting Ex-
pected and Saloons May
Remain Open
TAKES RAP AT HIS CRITICS
Nephew of Former Governor
Blease, of South Carolina,
Among Riot Prisoners
Bv a star Correspondent

CHESTER, July 81.
Mayor Mcdowell announced today that
he believed conditions had returned to nor
NAL in Chester, and that race-rioting was
at an end. He said he would allow the
saloons to remain open tonight until 1880,
the regular hour of closing.
The Mayor today was authority for the
statement that one of the men arrested in
last Fridays roting is C. "A. niesss, Z
nephew of former Governor Cole Blease.
of South Carolina. Young Blease. he said,
is still incarcerated in Media jail. When
he was arrested, the Mayor said that
Blease gave fictitious name. The young
man, it is alleged, explained his predica.
ment in a wire to relatives IN South Caro-
lima. and former Governor Blease is said
TO be making strenuous efforts to obtain the
boys release.
Warden Allen made an investigation Of
this report, but said that no prisoner an.
swering to that name was in the Jail.
There was very persistent rumor ema-
mating from supposedly authoritative
sources that Magistrate Cleary would not
sit i'm his usual court tomorrow. 1t was
reported that his place would be taken by
Alderman Elliott or Alderman Holt. As
the Mayor IS In Philadelphia, this report
could not be confirmed.
The Mayor today computed the toll Of
the race riots as follows: Five dead, three
whites and two negroes: thirteen in hos
pitals fifty-six paid fines; fifty-e.ght un-
der $1,000 bail; nineteen under $4,000 bail
and thirty discharged.
"If there was an organized gang in
Chester for the fomenting of trouble" said
the Mayor 81 would not be so certain that
the trouble is at end. But we have
been unable to uncover any evidence of
organization. OF course, we shall not relax
our vigilance in the slightest and we are
making plans for increased police protec-
tion. We shall ask Councils for twenty-five
additional policemen, ten Of whom will be
mounted policemen and ten motorcycle
| cops"
In another rap at reformers, the Mayor
said: '"The men who are critictzing the ad-
ministration are a fine bunch of reformers
Here is the kind of reformer one of them
is: A little while ago he purioned liquor
taken by Chief of Police Vance in a raid.
For three days he lay drunk on stolen
booze in the Tenderloin. He has been one
of the severest critics Of my administra.
tion."
Several attacks were made on negroes
| last night, but there were no fatalities
Although one negro was attacked by
| twenty white men on his arrival at the
| Pennsylvania Railroad Station the police
| say they had heard Of no further trouble.
| This negro went to City Hall for protec-
| ton and Policeman Rush was ordered to
| escort him to the railroad station. He then
| left town.
Several youths. including two members
| of the National Guard, attacked Bud Smith,
| a negro, on Market Square. He escaped
after being badly beaten. Police made no
arrests
There were other reports of trouble at
Third and Tilman streets and at a brick
yard Sixth and Engle streets.
Several persons charged that Mayor Mo.
DoweH appointed Charles Caldwell,
negro politician, to the police force, al
| though the later had been convicted of bal
| lot frauds. The Mayor said he knew moth
ing Of Caldwelrs record and that he was
| appointed as result Of high recommenda-
| tions.