The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-08-20
BRUTAL OFFICER
ATTACKS WORK
ERS' MEETING.
By P. S. KERR.
Especial correspondence.)

Nopecidi Cofrespondence.l
A picnic held for the benefit of the
unemployed by the international
Workers Association on Sunday,
August 7th, at Homewood Park in
the township of Cheektawaga, a SUBJ
urb Of Buffalo, was scene of small
riot, the arrest of the principle speak
er and the brutal assault Of two work.
ers-one woman-by the forces Of
law and order.
The trouble began when a constable
stopped the speech of Franklin P.
Brill. Several hundred people stood
about, listening with rapt attention,
when suddenly they were aroused by
a volley of vile oaths, and a threat
to pump the speaker full Of lad if
he continued. Ordered from the plat
form, the speaker was man-handled
by the constable and ordered from
the grounds. This outrage was too
much for several workers, who came
to Brill's assistance. Free again, Brill
was seated on a bench talking to a
woman, when he was pointed out to
the constable who lurched toward
him. The woman, fearing for herself,
as the guardian of justice staggered
close to her, raised her arm in an in
voluntary effort of self-preservation.
Angered, the constable seized her
fiorcely by the throat, shook her
violently, and hurled her to the
ground. Turning to Brill, he yanked
him from the bench and dragged him
20 an awaiting auto in which was
seated the County sheriff and his as
sistant. They refused to take Brill
away as there was no ground for ar
rest.
The woman and Christian Robbie
were again assaulted when they at
tempted to learn his name from the
constable. Robbie was knocked un-
conscious for a spare of 15 minutes
by the constable with pair of brass
knuckles or black jack.
Meanwhile the crowd closed in on
the constable, who pulled gun, blew
his wistle and several cut throats like
himself came running out. Two Of
them had shot-guns. He shouted out
"Shoot the sons-of- bitches, give you
permission" At this juncture, the
sheriff with his men, restored order
Brill permitted himself to be led tt
the home of Doctor Anna Reinstein
| wife of Boris Reinstein, on whose
| property the picnic was being held.
Meanwhile the sheriff addressed
the audience, telling them that what
had taken place was not the work o.
his office, nor of the federal officers
| some of whom were known to b.
present. It was plain from his who'll
demeanor that he realized that dirt!
piece Of work had been pulled OIL
responsibility for which he had NJ
] desire Of sharing.
! Names of dozens Of witnesses wer
secured and early the following morn
ing the services of Eustace Reynold
i labor lawyer, who has done yoemal
service in protecting the interests 0
u the workers here was put on the case
! He went to the principle Count
I judges in an effort to secure a war
rant for the constable's arrest. II
] was unsuccessful. The question wa
] then taken up with the district at
] torney's office for the purpose o
bringing the matter before the pre-
sent special grand jury with no bet
!, ter results. A visit was then made t
) the township of Cheektawaga, whic
supports four peace justices all wit
proper jurisdiction. Three refused t
: issue warrant. The fourth one &c
: clared that while he would issue
j warrant preferred by Robbie, sal
5 that "if the evidence showed that
/, Bolshevik or Soviet speech had bee
made, the officer would be acqul'
e |ted," in spite Of the fact that tn
{ assault of Robbie had no connectio
5 with the speach.
: No justice is expected in the cas-
Had the assault been committed ,
0 a working man, how different is wouI
have been. The conviction OF poli'
officer for assaulting a wage-work'
is indeed rare in the annals OF Juri
: prudence. The most we can 40 Is
t give the matter wide publicity
!. has already created quite a stir'
k labor circles here.
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