Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1923-08-31


/ in this city after a night of terror,
Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Realm
of New Jersey. in odd Fellows Hall,
80 Smith srteet .ast night.
A report that the Klan was to hold
meeting here last night spread
like wildfire through this city, Wood
bridge, South Amboy and surround
ing towns between $3.50 and o'clock
and by o'clock there was moo
estimated at close to 5000 in front
of the hall.
Chief Niels J. Tonnesen, who had
received a letter at his home early
yesterday afternoon, from an Earl
Gentry of Trenton, notifying him Of
the meeting, had held five men in
reserve and under Sergeant Frank
Kasprzak these officers made stand
in front Of the entrance to the hall
about $3.50 o'clock.
Several persons managed to get
by the Klan guards shortly after
O'Clock and the crowd which was
gathering rapidly, first spoke of res
cuing these persons who they be-
lieved, were being held.
When Harold R. Moford, giving
his home as New Monmouth, claim
ing to be a deputy in Monmouth
county, flashed a gun in the air after
an exchange of words with some
men in the crowd, the first rush for
the hall was started.
Police Hold Back
Without a leader, the mob en-
deavoring to gain entrance to the
hall, were repulsed by the police
who used night sticks effectively.
| The crowd was intent, however. on
getting to Moford and several blows
were sent his way before Motorcycles
| Odicer Iayden and Detective Gutow-
ski managed to get him free. His
| 3g calibre gun was taken from him
and he was taken to the station
! house.
Several more attempts were made
to enter the hall. but each time the
anti-Klan gathering was checked py
/ the hmecoats. A tear gas bomD
was thrown by a police officer after
! the mob had made several attempts
to enter the building, but the smoke
and fumes of the bomb only had
one minute effect and the crowd re-
turned to IL old position.
At, S:55 O'Clock Sergeant kas-
przak notified Lieutenant William
| Calvin at headquarters that there
was a riox and to send help. At this
| time first riot call was sent IN anu
members of the department on duty
shortly arrived at the scene.
After the initial riot call, Lieu
tenant Calvin was placed in charge
in front of the hall and each Of
| ficer reported to him for instruc-
tions, upon arrival at the scene.
Chief Tonnesen sent q call to Free
hold for assistance OF the state po-
lice about 9:15. Seven motorcycle
men from Morgan and treehola
! made good time in getting mere.
The riot call taps sent in by the
| police showed S5 on the indicator al
the Washington Hose Company t1re-
house and when the fire truck reach-
ed Smith and Water streets the
smoke from the tear gas bombs gave
the impression that there was nre
in the vicinity of King and smith
streets.
Upon the arrival of the fire truck
at the scene, some Of the MOB en-
deavored to connect up nose ana
take same up into the building, pu'
again they were repulsed oy tne
4 bluecoats. Between $3.50 and IL
o'clock eight more bombs were
thrown by the police, and IN eaen
case the effect was short lasting.
Second Riot Call
With the crowd steadily increasing
and with a great many members OF
the police department. still absent
from the scene, Chief Tonnesen de-
lcided to send in a second riot call
This was at 10 o'clock and a mis-
take in sending in the call, resulted
in an alarm for box 25 at the Centra
railroad and Smith street being sent
in.
Upon the arrival OF the firemer
at the scene. Chief John Campbell
found that the box had not beer
lopened, and an investigation reveal.
ed that the alarm had been turned
lin from the police station. Chiei
lTonnesen later notified the fire chiei
Iof the mistake.
The fire alarm and the riot cal
brought more people from then
homes and the crowd at one time
numbered over 5000.
After the first riot call, the mol
practically convinced that it woult
be impossible to get into the hall, de
Cided on the stone throwing AM
nearly every window in the from
of the building was shattered. Th'
western plate window in the Hal
stationery store was broken at th'
time of the first attempt to entel
the building, and the eastern plat'
window in the Cannon & Sheehl
store, was broken shortly afterward
The stone throwing was first dons
from King street. just below Smith
street. Then some of this gang de.
cided on going to the back of this
building where it was learned tner'
were no policemen. A great many
OF the windows in the rear of tht
building were shattered upon the ar
rival of this mob and then the stone
throwing was ordered stopped while
ten or fifteen mounted the fire es.
capes.
In one side of the hall, the eastern
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