The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-06-14

DESPERATE OUTLAW GANG
ATTACKS MARTIN WIDNESS
Max Rosenbegs Lawless Crew Returns From Drunken Bout
in Oliver and Then Comes Extremely Close to
Committing Bloody Murder

On the night of June 8, snarling
pack of underworld wolves in Supe-
rior tried to drag policeman Martin
Witness down to his death. A protect
ing providence saved him by hair 8
breadth and COMPOUNDED his assailants.
AS it was, he received severe kick
under the chin and broken tooth.
Ever since mayor Baxter laid off
dozen or more of the members of the
Superior police force, the most vicious
Of the bunch have done all they could
to stir up trouble, that being their
low-browed idea of getting even. Many
of the rejected policemen are crooked
as rams horns, therefore they have no
use for a straight man like Witness.
Incidentally, every lawless underworld
rambler in Superior has been more than
willing to take hand in any dirty de-
signs against the mayor or the trusted
members of the police force.
incidentally, fine bunch Of crooks
and disciples of the gospel of low
moral endeavor is out on bail after
arrest on varied assortment of
charges.
Martin Rubbelke, the man who
kicked policeman Witness in the face,
was arrested for assault with intent
to do great bodily harm. Max Rosen-
berg, proprietor of the notorious Cafe
America, J. E. Stephens, bartender at
Rosenberg's lawless dump, James Nc
Intosh, former policeman, and Chris.
Peterson, proprietor of bevo and
bingo joint, were gathered in on
charges of refusing to assist an officer.
They put up bail and pleaded not
guilty.
Jack Levinski, a former chauffeur
and recently returned soldier, whom
Witness undertook to arrest for be-
ing drunk and disorderly, after an ex-
tended tussle, broke away and effected
his escape.
81 began to suspect that something
would happen that night" said Mr..
Witness in giving his version Of ths
trouble, "when an auto containing
Peterson, Mcintosh, Levinski and one
other, came driving in from Oliver
and stopped in front of the Cafe
America, where they alighted from a
| mud-splashed car and went inside.
81 watched them for awhile and,
when they became too boisterous, |
went in and told the men who were
sitting in a booth, to put the soft
pedal on their voices or I would be
compelled to act.
"They promised me that they would
be good and two or three of them
offered me drinks from their bottles
which I declined.
"After making a short round, I re,
turned to the sidewalk in front of the
cafe, principally to prevent an acct.
dent, as the men were too intoxicated
to drive car without endangering
themselves and others.
presently they came out of the
cafe and began to get into the car
where Rosenberg already was seated
Peterson told me that Levinski was
pretty drunk and, just then, Jack
pulled out bottle Of whisky and pro
ceeded to pass it around to those with
him.
cat that point, I interfered and
told Levinski that I had let things
go, so long as they were in the res
taurant, but that he could not pull
that stuff on a public street. I then
placed him under arrest. He declared
that 1 might arrest the others, but ]
could not take him.
'I then pulled Levinski out Of the
car but, owing to his intoxicated CON
dition, and resistance, he got down
onto the sidewalk. I then called
Stephens, who stood in the doorway
Of the cafe, to cali the patrol wagon
He only laughed at me. I then asked
Rosenberg to call the wagon but he
also, refused.
"'Just then Rubbelke shouted:
| "'We are not going to stand fol-
this
Cumming towards me, he kicked
me under the chin.
81 was partly stunned by the kicl
for an instant, which enabled Levin
ski to squirm out Of my hands and
escape.
II pulled my gun but failed to stol
Levinski and Rubbelke also ran away
| ct am satisfied that had the kicl
knocked me senseless, the bunch would
have jumped onto me and killed me
right there" ..l. ..a,-s
Wednesday afternoon the band Of
low moral endeavorers was arraignei
in municipal court. Max Rosenberg
Chris. Peterson and James Mcintosh
pleaded not guilty and their trials wer,
set for last Wednesday. h0WheH thest
lines were written, outcome of tn,
cases had not been learned. Peterson
and Rosenberg put up bail in the sun
Of 500 EACH. Mcintosh had only sos
therefore the court accepted his bob
tailed bail and let him Co. "A:
Il The day after the trouble, an effor
was made to sneak Rubbelke over t,
Duluth, out Of the Jurisdiction Of tn,
Superior authorities. pei. ..
Officer Mead happened to see Rub
belize In an automobile headed fol
Minnesota. He telephoned the Duluth
police department and, half an houl
later, the fugitive from justice wa
booked at police headquarters in su
perior. ,.. :. -... o..