Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1909 — RIOTS IN GARY DUE TO WARM CAMPAIGN [ARTICLE]

RIOTS IN GARY DUE TO WARM CAMPAIGN

500 Deputy Sheriffs and Marshals In a Clash. Gary, Ind., Nov. 3.—Rioting was threatened in Gary after warrants had been issued for the arrest of William Crollius, former mayor of Joliet and recently a candidate for mayor of Gary. Considerable excitement was noted throughout the steel town, and citizens were in constant terror. The warrants for the arrest of Crollius charged him with "provocation” but the deputy sheriffs, it is Bald, feared to arrest him and he walked the streets unmolested. Heavily armed policemen, deputy sheriffs and deputy marshals acted as escorts and a company of militia was held in readiness at South Bend. Many of the political workers went about the streets armed. The Democrats, led by Thomas E. Knotts, whose name was substituted on the ticket for that of Crollius, used a patrol wagon and other vehicles to take the voters to the pplling places. The Republicans had automobiles. Two hundred and fifty deputy sheriffs and a like number of deputy marshals clashed at Twenty-second street and Broadway, shortly after the polls opened. After half an hour of fighting more than a score of men were so badly beaten that they were unable to leave the scene of battle unassisted. The rioting caused a panic among the respectable elements of the steel city. W’ith the entire police force under arrest, many were afraid to votje because of the lack of protection.