The Mankato free press., 1918-06-21
Mrs. Margaret Smith Was
Placed Under Arrest
MADISON LAKE MELEE
Woman Alleged To Have Pulled
Gun On Men; Looked Like
Cannon

Lake yesterday threatened 10 I'LL T.
j. McGrath and H. L. Fitcner full OF
holes, it is charged. The alleged out
burst occurred when James Smith
husband of the woman accused Fit
cher of having torn a banner from his
car. Pitcher denied the charge and
pitched battle between McGrath
and Pitcher and the Nonpartisan
Smith followed. In the mixuL Nc
Grath suffered a severe cash on his
head from stones thrown by Smith
and his wife and all were bruised and
battered in the melee, according to
the story related by parties in Mad
iSon Lake.
McGrath and -'itcher, it appears
of Madison Lake when they met a
machine bearing a North Dakota Ii
cense. 1t turned out to be the Smith
machine and as soon as they came
abreast of it Smith jumped out and
accused them of having torn the
banner off his car. Pitcher denied
the charge and a pitched battle fol-
lowed
During the fray Mrs. Smith is said
to have pulled the gun and threaten
ed TO shoot the two men battling with
her husband. Despite the fact that
the gun was loaded it was taken
away from her. The weapon was one
of the latest models and had three
loaded and two empty cartridges in
ii. One empty and one full bottle OF
beer was found in the automobile
Mr.. and Mrs Smith were taken be-
fore Justice ]. K. Knapp of Madison
Lake. They waived examinatiGn,
however. and were brought to the
county Jail at Mankato by Deputy
Sheriff Albert Nerdahl.
The Paraders Broke Up.
The NOnpartisan procession, when
it reached Madison Lake appears to
have been led by farmers living in
that vicinity. AS the first cars pas
ed through the city the firemen began
attaching the hose but did not get
to playing out the water until these
cars were out of reach. Others in the
procession seeing tho belligerent atti-
tude of the populace at Madison Lake
turned off in every direction tC es-
cape the wrath of tho crowd. One
crowd ran down q road and canIc to
a dead end. the road ended ?"3 they
were able to go no further. S opDing
at the farm OF Tim Mortaugh they
asked permission to go across a stIiD
of field to get to another road which
led away from Madison Lake.
Nellie Mortaugh, daughter 0f Tim
Mortaugh was the only one at home
when the men made thc request. She
told them they might cross the field
<>f fn n1
The men protested saying they did
not have that much money.
"No. you dirty dogs. r",t haven't
the money for the Rod Cross" Miss
Mortaugh replied, "hGt you had the
SIG to shell out to Townley."
1t is reported that the leaguers
made the threats to return to Madi-
son Like before Sunday and burn
the town.
Patriotic citizens at Amboy were on
the watch for the leaguers yesterday
and The paraders would have receiv-
ed warm reception in that village.
A lookout was stationed on the viii
lage water tower with a pair of field
glasses to give the people of the
town first warning of the approach of
the machines. Much to the disap-
pointment of the COMMITTEE of well
come" however. Amboy was not ia :
vored with a visit by the leaguers.
Farmers from the surrounding coun-
try gathered in Am3oy to assist in
giving the leaguerS redhot recep-
tion.
Intensified Loyalty Sentiment.
A resident of Madison Lake today
made the statement that yesterdays s
demonstration in that village has only
intensified the loyalty sentiment in that
community. Those who may have had
any sympathy for the Nonpartisan league
have cast it to the winds. All are GO
ing to vote for loyalty candidates for
office.
A report was circulated in Mankato
late yesterday that woman had been
killed in Madison Lake during the melee.
This was an error. The woman was
standing near an auto when one of the
tires burst. She thought someone had
taken shot at her and she fell back
ward.
Given Preliminary Hearing.
James Smith and wife, Margaret Smith
were brought before Judge w. l.. Com
stock in the municipal court at ten a.
M, this morning charged with assault
in the second degree. Only prelimin-
ary hearing on the case was held at
this time. Mr.. and Mrs. Smith will ap-
pear to make their pleas at five O'clock
this afternoon. After the hearing Mrs
Smith was released on a DOnd or S5Ot
but her husband remained in the iail
until the hearing. Attorney c. o. Daley
appeared for the defendants.
Smith told a decidedly dramatic ver-
sion of the affair at Madison Lake to
the Free Press. He said that, as he
was driving down the hill toward the viii
lage he saw. a number of men fighting
by the road. just outside of town. Sew
eral of the men We're middle aged. one
by the name of Strickland. being old and
feeble. Women and children We're also
in the scuffle. Smith says he stopped
his machine to help the Nonpartisans
if they needed it.
He claims that p J. McGrath had
Joined the fray, armed with an AK and
that he was plying the weapon right
and left Smith says that Strickland
suffered a scalp wound from blow or
the head with the ak. AS McGrath raise
his battle AK for the finishing blow
Smith rushed to the rescue and seized il
before McGrath could strike. Others
Joined the fray and the battle continued
hotter than before.
Added Dramatic Touch.
At this point Mrs Smith added the
in. branishing the huge forty-eight cali
ber revolver and threatening to blow
Madison Lake parties full of holes"
i saved that old mans life," she
stated. "he would have been killed if il
hadn't been for me-
At junctures during the story Mrs
Smith attempted to clear up the Incl
dents her husband was relating
I'm doing the telling here Smith