July 19, 1902
Policeman Halverson Goes to Aid of Watchman Charles and Has His Gun Taken Away from Him
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“FLOCK” OF BLACK EYES
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Yesterday afternoon at about 5 o’clock Lawrence Charles, who has been employed as a watchman in the G.H. shops, was seated in front of the St. George hotel, where he rooms and boards, when two men came along, one apparently intoxicated. Just as the intoxicated man got opposite Charles he lunged forward and grasping the unsuspecting Charles by the throat bore him down. A fierce struggle then ensued. Charles attempting to get free, which he finally succeeded in doing. He then ran into the hotel to get to his room but was met in the hallway by others who evidently were there to join in the mix up. A general fight ensued.
The noise of the scuffle attracted Officer Halverson, who came in and asked that the men stop their racket. He caught one on the nose from the overflow. He also got a little uppercut on the jaw. Judging from the number of men, he saw that it was going to be “ten minutes rough noise,” so he pulled his gun and grappling with the big fellow who had smashed him on the nose, he asked the man to surrender. Surrender was what was least troubling the big fellow. His fighting blood was up and fight he would. A clinch followed. In the breakaway the big fellow took a bite hold under Halverson’s left arm. Halverson got his arm around the big fellow’s body and held him.
Officer Baker, responding to an emergency call over the telephone, came upon the scene at this time and demanded a cessation of hostilities. He also saw one of the fighters with Officer Halverson’s gun. In less time than it takes to tell, Baker had knocked two men down and was going after a third, who took a hurried departure.
Damage done: Officer Halverson, a slightly swollen nose from an overflow blow and one or two small swollen places on the forehead from short arm jabs; Watchman Charles, badly swollen lip from a “smash,” a cut over right ear from what not known, face generally contused, shirt sleeve entirely torn out, hat lost; C. Orman, a brakeman, called by his companion ‘the Kid,’ said, “They never touched me;” L.W. Taylor, the big fellow, a long cut on the top of the head from a blow by Officer Baker’s pistol and one or two contused places on his face.
The Other Side
The foregoing version of the fight was given by the police and Officer Charles. L.W. Taylor gave his version as follows:
“You see, me and the ‘Kid’ have been taking a lay off for a few days and had been bowling up pretty freely. I was in the wash room of the hotel yesterday afternoon, when the watchman was shooting of his mouth about what he could do with anybody trying to ‘do’ him, and I said: ‘A scab or a scab herder don’t look good to me at any time. He made a pass at me and we then mixed. The next thing I knew a general fight was on and I didn’t know there was an officer around until one gave me a crack on the head. We had no business in the row anyhow. There was not a machinist around and the row would not have started if we had not been drinking and the scab herder had not shot off his mouth.”
The recorder will have to untangle the skein of their woes this morning and lay tribute upon the offender.
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