The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-08-02


 bullet-riddled jail. All legally cleo ed officials appeared to have left the town. A committee of three two veterans and the local news paper pubisher-sought to restore order.
 SURRENDER ENDS FIGHT While groups of veterans still roamed the streets searching for special deputies who might still be in the city. McCord said in Nash vile that everything is quiet and orderly in Athens this morning."
 T feel certain the splendid citi- zenship of MeMinn County. will be calm and maintain order" McCord added in a joint announcement with Col Hilton Butler. state adju- tant-general, in which the order for the state guard to move in was reSeinded.
 The fighting ended when force of special deputies hired by the long -entrenched political machine surrendered the jail after a wild night siege
 Reports that two deputies had been slain and their bodies still were in the smoking wreckage of the jail had not been confirmed.
 Challenge County Powers
 The shooting erupted late yes- te<lay when the G.I. Non-Partisan League challenged the McMinn County powers with both ballots and bullets during the primary cleo ton. The uprising swelled to a pro- longed pitched battle during the night.
 In the absence of constituted law, full order could not be restored. No further shooting was reported but G.I. supporters, their numbers swelling hourly. continued demon straions throughout the city of 10000
 Two G.I. leaders. former It. Cmdr. Ralph Duggan and GI. cam palgn manager James Buttran, and publisher Lowell F. Arter- burn tried to form a committee to order. They said they had called the governor in Nashville three times urging a declaration Of martial law. ..=- =z=.==.:... .=..
 The four-man Athens police force was reported hiding. Sheriff Pat who had sworn in the special deputies was not to be found, although armed teams of G.I. party men were securing the city for him. Mayor Paul J. Walker. who was with the machine, went on vacation three days ago and it was reported he usually leaves town at election time,
 We're in charge here until some one else comes" said a GI. leader. 1 Wed be glad 10 see the militia but | We don't think the governor is go- ing to send them.
 GI Candidates Elected
 The force of 1000 veterans and | their followers seized the ballot boxes from the jail and announced | that their slate of candidates, who | the established Democra- tic machine in yesterdays primary, had been elected.
 One member of the election com mission was reported to have stated that candidates of the veterans the GI. Non-Partisan League-had been elected to the offices of sheriff, trustee, county clerk, circuit court clerk, and regis trar
 Veterans calmed swelling crowd | which attacked the deputies as they filed, hands in air, from the jail after a crude dynamite bomb had | -orn the porch from the building. | Then they searched the 75 men and returned them to the jail for while they took over control of the town, pend- ng arrival of the state guards.
 Deputies Imported
 Others of a force of 300 special of them said to nave been ''imported"-recruited by Sheriff Pat Mansfield to guard the polls apparently had fled from Athens.
 The veterans group, led by tow ring James Buttram, issued a tatement saying that they had ought peaceful election, but had ,een met by armed force at the