The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-01
Strike Riot, Murders Made News Headlines Here In 1903
Democrats Versatile Writer, Historian of Local Events and Personalities, Out Easter, Re- calls Murder of Policeman Paul Men delssohn, Trolley Strike, Martial
 Law, Public's Uneasness,
 Clergy's Appeal in His
 tory-Making Epochs.

with short billies in their hands They were pushed aside. Then 1t was that Lieut.. Tom Dodds arrived on q trolley car with a prisoner from the south end. The big police de- tective was surrounded. but held to his man and lugged him off to police headquarters. By this time word had reached Chief Egan by way of a me ssenger to his favorite haunt in Odd Fellows Bldg The chief was dazed for the time being at what he observed; the crowd was so dense he could hardly push himself to the nearby station, to don his uniform. He directed that all outside men be brought to the center. Some came, and some didn't. The chief himself went into ttle crowd minus stick or gun.
 Chief Egan Commands
 "hs the chief of police of Water bury" he called from a nearby bus.
 T command all of you to leave ald go to your homes; let it not be said that Waterbury has reached a point of mob violence"
 But the crowd, outside of few, remained. There was a hoot now and then for the Chief, but he was respected man and no attempt wa made to harm him. Yet, he walked among the people, urging and trying his best to get the people to move on In this effort he was joined by other police, all with night sticks, but with no better luck; he refused to give his consent to use the stick, one of the reasons set forth by his opponents, responsible for his removal year or two later. And up to his dying day. he always held he was right, in denying his men the right to flatten the heads of some of the rioters in this man. ner. A cavalryman in the civil war, Egan was known as a fighter, but not as a club SWinger in his days as a policeman.
 The Good Old Chief
 He didn't hate, but he disliked newspaper reporters, fresh kids as he described them. bent on printing police stories Of little value to the department itself.
 The Bauby corner gang hung on for the greater part of the night: Every car going west was shoWered with bricks as 1t passed the old City Hall. The strikers "ducked", but the mob ran on, and down to the west end car barns, where Jim Farley, the leader, and others who brought the men here were located. The po- lice followed on, but could do little. The crowd got so far beyond control the Fire Department was summon ed; The safety commissioners 1s- sued this order, being in control or the police and also Fire Department under charter regulation. Today both departments are separated, and no such combination could work to- gether in similar emergency unless two boards instead of one issued the order.
 Oh, what night!
 The next day was Sunday. Peace and quiet prevailed.
 The people looked sheepish.
 Preachers of all faiths appealed for reason, and the observance Of the laws.
 But the rank and file of Water bury's population stood back of the striking trolleymen. The refused to ride, even though the big uniformed military men from other parts of the state assumed an attitude Of friendliness toward the strikers.
 We shall never forget the arrival of the military at the old railroad station at the foot of Grand street Guns cooked and made ready for service, as the men pulled into line and started their walk Up town to the old armory on Phoenix avenue.
 ''The Rabble"
 State and New York papers sent their reporters here on the hop. Wa terbury was in the lime-light. The general assembly was in session, and we recall the remark Of Represent ative Reuben Tucker of Ansonia or Derby, we are not quite sure.
 But he said we Of Waterbury were 'T'he Rabble"
 We never met the Gentleman, but we have never forgotten his uncom- utterance. We shall never forget 1t. He is dead now, and we like to respect the dead. But he was wrong; he was mistaken. The good people of our city never thought much of the Railway Company on account of It's failure to meet the of the two per cent agreement. And they just lost their heads for the time being.
 Poor Paul MendelssOhn Killed
 Poor Paul Mendelsohn was ar Out Easter when he joined the Po- lice Department just short Stubby young fellow, and barely old enough to vote. He was with others at the old Welton street school.
 Poor Paul wouldn't harm any one. and yet 1t was when he as a police officer went to the assistance of the man he was assigned to pro- Lect. he was slain immediately.
 Pinkerton and other private de- tective agencies worked on the case for years, but secured little. if any evidence. Rewards totaling $iS.65O were offered, but never paid, due to