The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-23
MOB ATTACKS
POLO Team AT
WILLARD PARK
Life Guard Is SIugged and
PoIiCeWoman 0iSarmed
by Rioters.
HUNDREDS IN FRACAS'
Free for All Staged, With
No Officers Near to
QueII Trouble.
HUNDREDS IN FRACAS

Severe injuries we're suffered by
city pool life guard and a police
woman was handled roughly and
diSarmed during clashes in two
parks Friday night, which in one in
stance assumed the proportions of a
riot, with several hundred persons
engaged.
Policy of the police department in
placing women instead of men on
duty at parks was blamed largely for
the situation today.
James Clark, zoos North Delaware
street, chief life guard at Rhodius
park pool and coach of its water
polo team, was unconscious for a
time after he received broken nose,
bruises and other injuries in a gen.
eral fight at Willard park.
The battle followed water polo
victory of the RhodiuS team over
the Willard team.
Players Not Blamed
Clark today declared that the
game, a triple overtime clash, was
on a strictly sportsmanlike basis
and blames none of the players on
either side for the trouble that fol-
lowed.
The policewoman attacked and
disarmed was Mrs. Mary Moore, on
duty at Camp Sullivan. She said a
Negro youth twisted her arm and
seized her revolver after she fired
one shot into the ground to attempt
to frighten him. She was trying TO
protect another youth the Negro is
alleged to have beaten.
Mrs. Moore said that the Negro
accused the other youth of having
"squawked to the cops" causing a
raid on the craps game.
Though crowd estimated at 1000
attended the water polo game, Mar
garet V. Osborn, policewoman, was
the only officer on duty at Willard
park. She stated today she knew
little about the fight which followed
the game, taking the attitude that
she had performed her duty by
keeping the crowd in its place dur
ing the contest.
Fight Starts in Park
She remarked today that some
body told me, TITS a good thing
the fight was not in the park.
Statements of police called by
radio and witnesses of the disorder
show the fight was in the park and
spread to Randolph and Washing
ton streets.
motorist who halted at the in
terSection described the scene to-
day.
Il saw eight or nine fights in
progress at one time he said.
They we're all over the place. They
piled up on the tenders of my car
and we're fighting on lawns. Traffic
was halted"
First report was that of patrol
man Clinton G. Robson, who ar
rived at the park at 8:44. He said
a crowd in the park and one at the
street intersection were dispersed.
Robson said he was informed the
participants in the fight had left
in truck.
Another report was that of pa
trolman William Haugh. who said
he arrived at the park at 8:45. He
stated they we're gone before we
got there"
Attacked After Game
Clark said he and twelve Rhodius
polo players went to Willard park
In truck and that they were OH
their way to the machine after the
game, preparing to return to Rho
dlus to don their street clothing.
when he was attacked.
One man grabbed him, Clark said.
and another struck him. He went
to his knees and was struck again.
He lost consciousness. Clark saws
200 persons attacked him and the
other members of the Rhodius
group.
After considerable fighting. the
Rhodius men reached the truck.
Clark was placed in an automobile.
and taken to city hospital.