The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-01-03
MELLON DEFENDS Staying
OF Three BOOZE RUNNERS,
MOB ATTACKS COAST GUARD
Staid Boston Is Scene of
Rioting; Rum Killings
Called Massacre.
POSTERS ARE TRAMPLED
Service Officials Term Act
of Crowd Insult to
American Flag.

BIZ United Press
BOSTON, Jan. 3.-Boston COM
mon, historic park which slopes
down to the business district from
staid old Beacon Hill, had today
witnessed another demonstration
by citizens rising to protest against
what they considered injustice.
Compared with other scenes in
days barking back to the rebellion
of the colonies, it perhaps was just
an incident. But it was an incident
regarded here as highly indicative
of Boston's dissatisfaction with the
administration of the prohibition
law and in particular of its belief
that the Staying of three rum-run-
ners by coast guards off Newport, r.
T., last Sunday was massacre"
Recruiting posters placed on the
common by the coast guard were
torn down and trampled by an
angry crowd. The colored placards
portraying the adventurous life at
sea were ripped from their frames
and torn to bits. Then the metal
frames themselves were twisted
apart and kicked about the side
walks.
Petty Officer George Briggs, in
charge of the recruiting stand, was
attacked as he tried to protect his
post. He escaped in a taxicab with
some of the debris of the posters
as the crowd shouted at him that
the coast guards were "murderers."
Insult to Flag
Coast guard officials termed the
crowds action IAN insult to the
American flag and one of the best
services in the United States"
Although a squad of police re-
serves were summoned to the COM
mon by a riot call, no arrests were
made.
The protest in action on the COM
mon followed protests in words
voiced at a mass meeting Thursday
in old Faneuil hall. There the an
Gent rafters of the "cradle of Amer
lean liberty resounded to fiery de-
nunciations of the Sayings and
resolution was passed calling on
President Hoover to make thor
ough and impartial investigation of
the Newport affair.
The historic hall was filled long
before the meeting began and hun
dreds, unable to gain admission,
stood outside. Scores of marketmen
in white uniforms and straw hats
mingled with them. For Faneuil
hall on common days now Is a pub
lie market.
william H. Mitchell, chairman of
the meeting, recalled that a man
was killed a stones throw away I'M
der the guise Of government
authority.
Recalls Crispus Attacks
"The Boston redcoats had full
warrant under the law to order the
Staying of Crispus Attucks,' he
said. Three men were done to
death in Newport harbor last Sun
day morning under the guise Of
authority.
"a Washington paper in the last
few days printed list of 100 done
to death throughout the country
under similar conditions. When
stark wholesale murder stalks
abroad under the protection of any
law, in Gods name repeal that law
Champions of justice never were
needed more than now"
Conrad w. Croker general coun-
sci for the Liberal Civic League,
branded Boatswain Cornell, who
was in charge of the coast guard
craft that fired on the Black Duck,
as a miserable skunk" He de-
clared Cornell did not show his
pennant so the rum-runner could
see it.
Not Defending Runners
ave are not here to defend rum
runners" Representative John j.
Douglass declared. I'VE are here in
protest against the action of fed
eral department attempting to en-
force an unenforceable law. We are
here to enforce the command Of
God, Thou shalt not kill"
Former Mayor John F. Fitzgerald
termed the shootings "murderous, "
and continued:
Those three men were bringing
In liquor for New Years eve cele-
brations. They knew it would be
consumed by Governors of states
mayors of cities, selectmen Of towns,
judges of the supreme court--in fact,
by public officials everywhere.
1.-THE coast guardsmen had no
more right to shoot those men than
would Boston police officers have to
go into hotel dining rooms and
shoot persons drinking at the
tables"
Senator Metcalf of Rhode Island
charged in telegram read at the
meeting that the bodies Of the VIC
,@r1t1Iad IF rnnpoU and