New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-08-05
FEDERAL MEN TAKE
1900 IN RAID HERE
Arrest ALI Young Men Found
Without Registration Cards

EeaeFat~ ana navy intelligence
agents who have been conducting
wholesale raids in various cities of
the state for the purpose of finding
slackers and also TO teach registrants
an. object lesson on the necessity of
carrying their classi1fcatioh cards on
them, swooped down on New Britain
Saturday night. They caught nearly
1900. in. the drag net; AT least /, 500
were found without their cards and
they were put through the formalities
at the State Armory on Arch street
and had the lesson well impressed on
them and were finally permitted to
gos@houn e. EC-In the fiaSal sitting down
IS were taken to Hartford. Sunday.
ar1dlrlodged in Jail, pending further in
vestigations and to be penaltzed for
any evident draft law evasion. The
majority of the batch taken to Hart
ford confessed to having failed to file
their missionaries. The populace
of New Britain was all agog over the
occasion. Many - had previously
learned of the intended raid and We're
on hand to witness the excitement
and fun. Some}9of the raiding parties
had exciting experiences. go
For about two weeks Edward Hick-
ey who leads the federal men, was
engage in mapping out tho plans of
his campaign and he had it we'll or
ganized. Experience in the making
of raids stood him we'll and the work
was carried out with dispatch.
In accordance with prearranged
plans a fleet of 80 or more automo-
bi1es owned and driven by local men
began to assemble at the State armory
where Chief of Police Willard J.
Rawlings was in waiting with Is
members of the regular police force.
Members of Company D. First Separ-
ate Company State Guard, of Bristol,
were present and took posts at vari-
Gus doors of the armory to prevent
unauthorized persons entering.
Sleutha of the federal and navy in
te1ltgence departments entered in
small groups. Some members of the
local companies of the State and City
Guards also gathered.
~ United States District Attorney
Thomas ]. Spellacy and his assistant,
John F. Crosby. and United States
Commissioner Richard Carroll of
Hartford were present. Col. Burpee
OF the State Guard and Mayor Quig-
ley were on hand.
II Soon after 6 o'clock the various
groups of raiders received their as
signm ents.F Shortly after 9 O'Clock
all were ASSEM- bted In the drill shed
for mai instructions by Attorney
Crosby
"a. Raids Begin.
: In what seemed only a few min
utes the results of the program were
observed batch OF SIX men in GUS
4
shed by way of the side door One of
the bunch. a dapper. little chap, care
fully scrutinized the rafters of the
drill shed as If looking for a 'hangmans
ropeTand failing to 1ocate any ne cast
searching. glances about as if expect
ing to find a firing squad. Perspira-
ton was observed rolling down his
face land she SHOOK as If cold shfvers
were playing tag: up and down his
spinal column. Some one. who talked
his language addressed him and smil-
.tng1y assured him he had nothing to
fear. Tn less than 10 minutes there
were ever 200 nj en-. waiting in line to
go through the -formaIities. From
their on the number constantly in
= creased. - ..-".
q - The procedure. followed was for
the gaardsnaan at the head of the col
-7lxsar 6ecanoEw one man at a time to go
to the tables where government men
were waiting The dialogue that fol-
lowed was ustiaI4y in the following
form, and with othe results Indicated:
r- ''Are You regfstered?" 49,.
YES" TFT-
F.. !"where's your classification card ?"
~. HON etfia my other clothes"
r. Young man yo1t must always car
nv your card with you. If you put on
your wedding cloth s3t put =. in your
classification card. IF you wear your
shop clothes carry the card. You
must have it with you constantly
The subject, If registered in New
Britain, was given paper bearing the
word Draft, meaning that he had to
20 to the stand where Representatives
OF the draft boards were present and
verified the mar s h. claims. If his
statement was found correct he was
given a pass out.
The young man who claimed to
register IN another city was subiect to
detention. If''tzre subject claimed
that his, classification card was home
he was placed I'M the detention room
and later IN the night such men were
loaded into autom obiies and given an
opportunity to prove they had cards.
In the event of failing to produce
they were returned1to the armory and
held, otherwise permitted to remain
ct home.
Some eligib1es admitted at once
that they had mo G1assifica ton cards
end various sorts Of excuses were of
fered They moved and did not get
their mail OF the entire lot taken in,
very few were beyond the draft age
and the smallness of this number in
Dictated fhe keen scrutiny Of the work
ers. .
=. Those who admitted they did not
Nle, StheiT rduestiothaires were taken
before Attorney Crosby and were
-rarizzed ana he1d' under guard. Some