Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1923-04-12
ANGRY CROWD
ON WAR PATH
FTER PLAYER
Chase "Horse" Haggerty of
Jersey City and Police Are
Forced to Act
RUSHED TO SMITH STREET
HostiIities End in Shop-Near
Fight Feature of Big Bas-
ketbaII Game
RUSHED TO SMITH STREET


ball game between the Original Gel
tics and the Perth Amboys in the
auditorium on New Brunswick ave-
nue. last night, when an angry mob
of several hundred people followed
Horse" Haggerty of Jersey City,
the giant pivot man of the New York
team from the hall. Hostilities ceas-
ed at the Eagle Candy Kitchen on
Smith street upon the arrival of a
squad of policemen.
Throughout the basketball game.
the second meeting of the two teams
this season, there were several near
fights and in the first half Dewey
Schwankert of the locals and john
ny Beckman of the Celtics, came to
blows near the Amboy basket. The
crowd was held well in hand on this
occasion.
With about one minute to SO in
the second period, Referee "Chick"
Farley called the last Of a number
of fouls for incorrect play in the
pivot circle. The foul was called on
Haggerty and as Farley brought the
ball to the Amboy free throw line.
the Celtic pivot man brought up his
right and Farley went to the floor.
1T Ia hard to say whether the move
rnent of his right hand was punch
or a push, but the referee quickly
regained his feet. Haggerty is well
over six feet in height and has more
than a hundred pound advantage
over the referee.
This time at least a couple OF
hundred rushed out on the door
intent on beating Haggerty and his
team mates. Sergeant George Koz-
usko and Officers Paul Layden, Carl
Monroe and Frank Burke succeeded
in auieting down the mob for the
time and the game was resumed.
Malone was allowed to shoot two
fouls, one for the initial mistake of
Haggerty in jumping incorrectly,
and another for the striking of the
referee. As the whistle blew a foul
was called on Amboy and Holman
made the try unconcerned whether
or not it was good, as the game was
over. Then the Celtics retired to
their dressing rooms and Sergeant
Kozusko and Officer Monroe guarded
their room.
The Celtic players went out in sec
tions and all, it is believed, were
hurrying to catch the last train out
of the old Pennsylvania station on
state street. Haggerty was followed
from the hall by a wild mob, and 1t
is said, was set upon in the runway.
He made his getaway and was again
followed.
The basketball player went down
New Brunswick avenue in the direc-
ton of Smith street, and 1t is said
was accompanied by Nat Holman.
Seeing the crowd still in pursuit
10 offArf GET in several
stores finally going in the Eagle
Candy Kitchen.
Several of the nearest pursuers
followed him into the store and in
the rear he lay on the floor to save
himself and tho store fixtures.
These fellows were chased from the
store and Officer Gaydos, who was
standing at State and Smith streets
block the path of 6<her pursuers,
who had also intend>d to enter the
store.
Gaycos, his attention was attracted
hy the appearance OF Haggerty,
whose face, no claims. was covered
with blood, coming down New
Prunswick avenue followed by a
mob of several hundred people. The
rnoh. the officer claims, were yelling
get him." 'lynch him." etc. He
ran to the candy kitchen door and
held off the crowd by threatening to
use his nightstick, until the arrival
of Sergeant Kozusko and other Of
ficers.
When Sergeant Kozusko reached
the candy kitchen and saw the mob
in attendance, Officers Lester Sea-
man, Joseph Dwyer. William Pet
erson, Charles Jorgenson and Will
lam Kilmurray were called to dis
perse the crowd.
Haggerty was taken from the
candy kitchen to the police patrol
md Officer Bernard Toolan drove
him to State street, where he was
nlaced in the car of DIR. ]. v. Smith
and taken to Sewaren to catch a
trolley. County Detective William
Fitzpatrick. who assisted in breaking
mn the fights in the hall, accom-
panied the player on this trip.
on the trip to Sewaren Haggerty
admitted that he had done wrong in
hitting the referee. The value of
point in so close a game caused him
to lose his head, he said. His face
about the left eye showed the ERECT
of the attack, and 1t is said, he re-
ceived a broken rib as result OF
the shoe leathering given him.
Glass straw holders in the candy
kitchen were fired by members of
the mob.
A report about the city after the
Haggerty occurrence. was to the ef-
feet that Johnny Beckman had been
set upon in the Pennsylvania rail-
road yard on Fayette street, but
this report could not be confirmed.