Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 179, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1914 — JUSTICE GREAVE HAD A VERY BUSY DAY [ARTICLE]

JUSTICE GREAVE HAD A VERY BUSY DAY

Men Who Halted the Show at Kniman All Arrested on Two Charges and All Fined. / _______ The escapade of several Knlman men and one from Rensselaer at Ehlman Monday night proved very expensive, as ail were arrested on charges of intoxication and rioting and all were fined by Justice Greve at DeMotte Thursday. The men had loaded up on booze while at DeMotte and had then gone to Kniman. Where the Short family traveling circus was exhibiting in a tent. The performance was about half finished when the DeMotte crowd arrived. Mr. Short Was doing an Irish monologue act ancLone of the party threw a chunk of ice or a beer bottle at him, knocking his hat off. Short turned in the direction from which the misisle came and made some caustic remarks. The DeMotte crowd took exception to the words used by Short, although spectators generally say that he said nothing more than the rowdyish act called for. Tlje rowdies went behind the curtain, it is said, and engaged in a "fight with' the showman' and members of hs family, the show was brought to an end and general pandemonium reigned. Some reports say that the rowdies used very bad language, and made indecent proposals to the women and exposed themselves in a most disgraceful manner. Two charges were filed against each of the participants, namely intoxication and rioting and each pleaded guilty to the two charges, their fines and costs totaling about $20,65. Albert Knipp pleaded guilty to a third charge, that of assault and battery, and his fine and costs -amounted to $42. The others who were fined were Jesse Summers, Homer Stell, Gregory White, James Cooper and Joe Davisson. A young man named Hanaway accompanied the crowd to Kniman but did not participate in the melee, in fact, he is reported to have done all that he could to quiet the others. He was not intoxicated either and no blame whatever attaches to him. The prompt action in making the arrests and imposing the fines should meet general approval, for acts of this kind can not be condoned in a civilized community.