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“Bail Denied Accused In Riot,” Windsor Star. May 18, 1938. Page 1, 3, 6, and 8. ---- Police Reserves Are Called To End Riot ---- Three Men and Woman Are Arrested When They Interfere With Officers Escorting Relief Inspector ---- By ANGUS MUNRO Police reserves were called late last night to quell a rioting mob of unemployed in front of the Windsor City Hall. Three men and one woman were arrested when they sought to interfere with officers escorting Provincial Welfare Inspector Walter S. Weese from a meeting of the Windsor City Council at which a proposed 20 per cent, relief cut was being discussed.

Four Arrested THOSE arrested were Charles Newbury, 225 Dougll avenue; Harry Burleigh. 442 Church street; Anthony Goetz, 237 Dougall avenue, and Mrs. Harry Burleigh, wife of Burleigh. whose action it was that set the mob spirit aflame. Charges of unlawful assembly were laid against the three men. with the probability that more serious charges may be laid today. Mrs. Burleigh was released after being treated by a doctor for her hysterical condition. She was to appear with the men today in Windsor city police court.

The four were part of a mob of 600 which began to gather in front of the city hall as early as 6 o'clock. Denied admittance to the council chamber because of safety measures ordered by-building and fire inspectors, only a small delegation was able to gain entrance. The remainder of them stayed throughout a three-hour drenching rain to await the decision of the council on the proposed cut. About a dozen police officers mingled in the crowd and had no difficulty keeping order.

Throughout the rain, which snaked the majority of them to the skin in a short time, the crowd appeared in good humor, some amusing themselves by making biting remarks in tones loud enough to be heard through the open second-floor windows of the council chamber. It was when the meeting ended that the temper of the crowd suddenly changed.

Mr. Weese Booed Several groups of city and welfare officials had preceded Mr. Weese from the building, including Dave Croll. M.L.A.. Windsor-Walkerville. who had addressed the council. As Mr. Weese appeared at the door of the building escorted by two officers, the crowd began a concerted booing. Walking slowly down the down or more steps between two lines of police and with an officer holding on to each arm. Mr. Weese appeared a bit worried but was apparently in safe hands.

He had taken the stand at the meeting that the proposed cut must be enforced on orders from Toronto and this information had been relayed to the crowd prior to his appearance by a member of the delegation admitted to the meeting. With only a couple of steps to go before he would be on the main walk leading to hi car. there suddenly occurred the incident which set the stage for the mob M-rne that followed.

Mrs. Burleigh either pushed or jostled by the press of the crowd, or in a deliberate attempt to reach the inspector stretched forth her arm through the police line and pushed Mr. Weese. In so doing, her hand scuffed his face and left a' smear of what appeared to be cold cream or grease. She later claimed she was pushed into the art.

Crowd Aroused The incident acted like a signal to the crowd already wild with excitement and shouting at the tops of their voices. They became incensed with the desire to reach the inspector, and the police escorting him broke into a run in an attempt to reach ms car, parked about 50 yards away. The officers and their charge were followed bv the crowd, now mad with the spirit of the chase. Hundreds streamed across the city hall lawn endeavoring to head off the officers.

Mr. Weese was bundled into his car despite the efforts of the mob to reach him. but during the journey the three men arrested were taken in rharqe by the officers as they sought to interfere. Others, screaming and shouting, were held in check by the police, as the car bearing the inspector sped away.

It was at this point that the reserves were called and responded within a couple of minutes from the nearby police headquarters. Under the direction of Chief Inspector W. H. Neale and Inspector Willis H. Brampton, some semblance of order was restored and the mob streamed back across the lawns to their former place in front of the city hall.

As officers escorting the arrested men walked their prisoners to the nation, a hundred yards away, scattered sections of the mob followed, shouting and demanding the men be released. Several officers had their clubs drawn but they ere not needed, nor were they used.

30 Officers Out

The prompt appearance of the reserves and their quick despatch of the prisoners avoided what may hare resulted in a general free-for-all between police and the mob. About 39 police were engaged.

The officers who accompanied Inspector Weese in his car were instructed to stay with him until he was safely home. It is not known whether he will prefer charges against those arrested.

The entire affair started out to be just another meeting of the unemployed and the spirit of good humor was apparent throughout the earlier part of the evening and until near the close of the meeting. Soap-box orators were numerous and all urged the crowd to organize and take action against the proposed cut in relief. There were fiery attacks on members of the city council, on relief admnistration in general and upon Premier Hepburn, who was referred to by one speaker Sydney I. Mat Donald as "the biggest liar in Ontario."

Other favorite epithets used by speakers included references to Mr. Weese as "the farmer boy from Dresden:" to Mayor Wigle as "the emperor of hovels" and "the brass hat colonel." Among the several who spoke were Joseph E. Spence. Jack Westwood. John Lindsay. MacDonald. Charles Newbury. William Emery and Ald. Reg. Morris.

Ald. Morris Ald. Morris left the council chamber during the meeting in protest at the refusal of council to entertain a motion to hear a delegation from the unemployed. He explained what was going on in the meeting and left the crowd with the warning to do nothing that would be unconstitutional in their behavior. Toward the close of the meeting, after the drenched serenaders had sung such old familiar airs as "We 11 Hang Mayor Wigle to a Sour Apple Tree" and "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here" not the original version. William Emery, one of the delegation admitted to the meeting, spoke to the crowd and told them that the relief cut was being hotly debated. He had scarcely finished when it was made known that the cut had been voted effective June 1.

The announcement; coupled with the warning from Emery that no unlawful action should take place, seemed to be taken for a while in comparative silence. The rain continued to beat into the faces of those gathered about the steps, and then mutterings began.

"We'll wait until they come out." a voice shouted. It was then the first of the officials appeared. Among them was Dave Croll. who. being mistaken by a large number for someone else, was booed for a moment or two. then, as he was recognized, there arose a cheer. He smiled and walked slowly to his car across the street.

Inspector Appears The mayor did not appear nor did any of the council excepting Ald. Morris and Con. Reaume. who also were received favorably by the crowd; Ald. Morris especially being cheered. Then came Mr. Weese and the ensuing mob scene. Mayor Wigle and other members of council and control board appeared later when there was a comparatively small crowd immediately in front of the building, the remainder having followed police orders and scattered in all directions away from the steps. Mayor Wigle was escorted by police but was not molested although many shouted names at him as he passed.

In the earlier part of the evening before the rain became heavy, speakers urged upon the assembled men and women the necessity for continuing the fight against any welfare cuts. A mass meeting of the unemployed was proposed for Lanspeary Park on Friday of this week in the evening and ail promised to attend. Provincial officers of the Unemployed Association of Ontario are expected in the city on that date.

The meeting prior to the real excitement was one of those impromptu affairs in which everyone is invited to take part. A park bench was secured and laid across the broad landing half way up on the city hall steps. There, the self-appointed chairman held forth between speakers. His invitations were readily accepted and although the rain dampened the ardor of some of the listeners, the speakers were not stopped.

Unsuitable for Oratory

They spoke with the rain beating into their faces and the water running down from their eyebrows and cascading over the ends of their noses into their open mouths.

Everyone appeared to be having a good time despite the rain and the discomfort of the surroundings. A few umbrellas appeared here and there but for the most part the audience simply stood and soaked up the oratory and the rain. When they didn't like a reference made by a speaker, they interrupted and time was taken out by the speakers to listen to argument for or against, as the case might be.

They were all In agreement, however, on one thing, that the Windsor City Hall is a safe place for a large crowd to assemble despite warnings issued by fire marshals and inspectors. It is a ruse to keep the unemployed away from council meetings in large numbers, they argued, and the mayor and the fire department may be in cahoots on the matter, one speaker believed.

Police Show Tact Throughout it all, the police were called upon to listen to names and aspersions against city officials and the administration in general. They showed tact in dealing with many an incident that might have provoked trouble and even as the uneasiness grew toward the impending close of the council meeting, the officers seemed to have the spirit of the gathering under control. No one, who had spent the greater part of the evening with them, would have believed that in so short a time, they would have turned from a singing, joking, half-serious, half-jesting assembly into a hate-crazed mob, wild with temporary desperation.

Only by their stubborn refusal to leave, could one say that their purpose was more than just to hear the result of the council's action on the proposed cut. Had the rioting incident occurred at a point farther from police headquarters, it is difficult to say what might have been the outcome.

Inspector Neale and Inspector Brumpton and the men engaged in the foray did not for a moment lose their heads in giving commands or executing them. Had they done so and used guns or clubs, or had they been fewer in number or later in arriving upon the scene, the story might have had a more tragic ending.

Inspector Neale's composure was scarcely disturbed after his return to headquarters.

"Oh. yes, we had a bit of a scuffle, but everything's in order again." he replied to an anxious query, from a spectator.

Few Windsorites not directly interested witnessed the scene, as the downpour drove all but the most ardent excitement seekers back to their homes. The hour of the actual outbreak was shortly after eleven o'clock.

MAYOR DECLARES PREMIER AGAINST RELEASING FOUR --- Quartet Remanded to May 26 ---- Were Arrested During Disturbance at City Hall Last Night: Wigle Singles Out Charles Newbury, Calling Him '"Communist at Heart' ---- Following the statement by Mayor Wigle that Premier Hepburn had ordered that they be held in custody, all four persons arrested following last night's relief demonstration were remanded in police court this morning until May 26. Each was charged with unlawful assembly.

The four charged were arrested by police, who were called to the city hall to quell a rioting mob of unemployed in front of the building. They are Charles Newbury, 225 Dougall avenue; Harry Burleigh, 442 Church street; his wife, Mrs. Irene Burleigh, and Anthony Goetz, 237 Dougall avenue.

The three men were held at the police station overnight. Mrs. Burleigh was released after being treated by a doctor for her hysterical condition.

"The premier of the province has instructed the attorney-general that no bail be granted," Mayor Wigle asserted. He had entered the courtroom just as Cecil Croll, counsel for the three men and the woman, was asking that his clients be freed on "their own recognizance or nominal bail."

(Following the police court session. Mayor Wigle, when questioned by The Star, stated that he had not been in communication either with the premier or the attorney-general's department regarding the men under arrest here and that his statement to the court that the premier opposed release on bail of relief rioters was a quotation from Mr. Hepburn's word concerning accused in recent relief riots at Lakeview, Ont.)

Courtroom Crowded THE courtroom was filled when the names of the three men and the woman were called. Shaking with sobs. Mrs. Burleigh had to be helped to her feet by Police Matron L. F. Begg, as the charges were read.

"The police have more investigating to do." remarked Crown Attorney James S. Allan. K.C "There are more people mixed up in this thing. I am asking for a remand," he added.

"I don't believe they should be asked to elect today," observed Magistrate Brodie.

"If there is my question of bail I am asking that it be exceedingly substantial." continued Mr. Allan. "This was an unwarranted attack on an official of the Department of Public Welfare. It was a cowardly thing for the man was carrying out the orders given him.

Draws Parallel "It amounts to the same thing as a group of people beating up a postman because they are disgruntled because he did not bring them a letter they were expecting." added the Crown.

Upon being informed by Chief Inspector W. H. Neale that about a week would be needed to conduct the investigation. Mr. Allan requested that the accused be remanded until May 26.

"I am representing all parties and am making application for bail." Cecil Croll remarked as he stepped to the front of the courtroom.

"Five thousand dollars apiece."' remarked Mr. Allan, curtly.

Starts to Explain Mr. Croll started to explain "the purpose of bail." but was interrupted by the Crown.

'"Pardon me. Mr. Croll," asserted Mr. Allan, :but if these people are allowed out of custody it will hinder the police investigation."

Mr. Croll continued with a plea that he was positive his clients would appear for trial if released on their own recognizance or nominal bail.

"Oh. no. this is a serious matter,” remarked Magistrate Brodie in reply to the lawyer's suggestion.

Mayor Wigle "If this is an application for bail, the premier of the province has instructed the attorney-general that none is to be granted," commented Mayor Wigle as he entered the court room.

"We have got these people where they ought to be," he stated heatedly as he waved his cane towards the prisoner's box. "If they take upon themselves to arsault a representative of the government, they should be put where they belong: as far as the law will permit.

"That man Newbury." he continued singling the accused out with his finger, "has been bothering us ever since I have been mayor. He is Communist by heart and action."

Refuses Request "I will refuse to grant bail until the attorney-general has been consulted. ruled Magistrate Brodie.

"I have already been in touch with the department," Mayor Wigle advised/ "I am through standing for this sort of thing if I can stop it," added His Worship as he left the courtroom.

Several in the audience, recognized by court officials as sympathizers of the four charged, were heard to mumble incoherently as the mayor passed in front of them. They were immediately warned to remain quiet by court attendants.

Magistrate Brodie informed Mr. Croll that he would hear a further application for bail on Monday.

STATEMENT EXPLAINED BY MAYOR MAYOR WIGLE’S statement in Windsor Police Court today in reference to the four persons arrested following last night's relief demonstration, conveyed the impression that he had been in direct communication with Premier Hepburn, and that the premier hal advised that no bail be granted; this was the inference drawn by two news reporters and Dave Croll, K.C. M L. A.

Both reporters declared that from the mayor's remarks, they were cf the opinion that he had talked personally with the premier. Mr. Croll, present for the hearing, affirmed that his reaction was the same.

Mayor Wigle was questioned after it was learned that Premier Hepburn was en route to St. Thomas, had not been at Queen's Park for two days, and that the attorney-general’s department was ignorant of any instructions to refuse bail.

"The only reference I had," explained His Worship, "was to what Mr, Hepburn said to these people that the attorney-general was not to permit bail to persons arrested in such cases."

By "these people." the mayor said he meant the arrests which developed from the trek of a Lakeview relief delegation to Queen's Park. Friday. April 29. Premier Hepburn subsequently had ordered the attorney-general that no bail was to be granted, he recalled.

On the afternoon of April 29. four persons were arrested in the cabinet chamber of the Legislature Further arrests followed later.

BENNETT IS BLAMED BY WEESE CONTROLLER George Bennett was blamed for last night's disturbance in front of the Windsor City Hall, when he was charged by Provincial Welfare Inspector Walter S. Weese, in a statement to The Star this morning, of "deliberately inciting the feelings of the unemployed" at a meeting of the control board last Thursday.

"Mr. Bennett, as a public official, has a great deal to answer for this morning." Mr. Weese declared when he arrived in Windsor Police Headquarters from La Salle where he had spent the night to be where it was "quiet." "It is against him my grief is this morning and not against these poor, deluded persons who are so easily led.

SPOKE TO JOBLESS "It all goes back to the meeting of the control board last Thursday," Mr. Weese continued, still in a highly nervous state after his experience of last night. "It was there that Controller Bennett told a delegation of the unemployed that this man Weese should be run out of town. Surely, a man elected to public office should know better than to deliberately invite such trouble.

"Thanks to the Windsor Police Department, to whom I am deeply grateful. I was not harmed bodily, but I am still quite shaky from my experience." Asked if he suffered any bruises or injuries of a minor nature, the inspector declared that, so far as he knew, he had not. A stain appeared on the back of his coat collar, left by the soft soap which his female assailant smeared across his face and clothes.

"It was the first experience of this kind for me." Mr. Weese." explained, "and I hope it will be the last. Never before have I encountered any difficulty in the performance of my duties which led to such disturbances. I want to say to the Windsor police that they handled matters in masterful style. I was given safe conduct direct to the hotel in La Salle."

CONFERS WITH POLICE The inspector then left to confer with Chief Inspector Neale in his office regarding charges which may be laid today against those arrested in last night's fracas.

Police headquarters seethed with excitement this morning as the hour for the opening court session drew near. The momentarily expected arrival of Inspector Weese who was reported to have suffered a black eye in the rioting, was the chief topic of concern. Shortly before Mr. Weese came in.

Mayor Wigle visited the court chambers and conferred with Crown representatives regarding the charges to be laid against those arrested in the rioting. He urged that under no circumstances should bail be granted the three arrested and held as he is definitely of the opinion the time is at hand when more drastic measures must be adopted with repeaters in the role of peace disturbers.

MAYOR WIGLE "This fellow Newbury," Mayor Wigle told The Star later, "he should have been locked up five years ago. It is time somebody did something drastic about this thing. I told the Crown this morning that no bail should be granted these fellows under any circumstances and they should be given the full penalty of the law. I know that the attorney-general's department in Toronto feels the same way about this thing and that when duly constituted officers are interfered with, it is time something was done."

The 78-year-old mayor was his usual aggressive self and appeared only a trifle excited over the affair. He was frank in his praise for the job done by the police department at last night's disturbance and offered his congratulations to them.

Reports that he had suffered an attack from a woman and had been slapped in the face when he attempted to walk through the crowd after the council meeting, were denied by His Worship. Headlines in some papers outside Windsor this morning carried this false report

Mr. CROSS DENIES CUT ORDERED TORONTO. May 18 - Although he would not admit that the Ontario Department of Public Welfare and Municipal Affairs had actually-ordered a cut in Windsor's relief scale and had forbidden an extra levy to maintain the scale. Hon. Eric Cross intimated to The Windsor Star today that his department had maintained a "very strong attitude" in support of both these positions.

The minister declared that those in Windsor who were trying- to give the impression that the relief cut had been "ordered" by the department were merely "trying- to pass the buck."

Mr. Cross said his position was that he had merely "advised" the Windsor City Council that the scale should be cut to correspond with the schedules in Toronto. Ottawa and other Ontario cities. "We said we would not make our grants in proportion to the higher scale and that if Windsor wanted to give a higher scale they would have to find the additional money themselves."

"But did you not forbid any extra levy?" The Star asked. "

Well, the department's position has been that an additional levy cannot be borne by the municipality. They can't afford an extra levy. We advised the mayor to that effect and I think the council has realized it. Our position was that we made recommendations which the council has seen fit to carry out; we issued no orders.

"It must be remembered that Windsor had a higher scale of relief than other cities of the province and we could not continue to make our grants based on that higher scale. We had to bring them into line with the grants we make to Toronto and Ottawa and other centres." Mr. Cross said.

NOT SLAPPED REPORTS in outside papers that Mayor Wigle of Windsor was assaulted and slapped in the fracas outside the Windsor City Hall last night were denied this morning. The mayor did not leave the city hall until after the riot had taken place. The only one jostled or "roughed up" was Welfare Inspector , Weese. "I was not interfered with," Mayor Wigle said this morning

Photo captions: Top left: POLICE officers are here shown escorting Mrs. Harry Burleigh after her arrest in front of Windsor City Hall last night when a rioting mob struggled with police as they sought to take Provincial Welfare Inspector Walter S. Weese from a meeting of the city council to his automobile. Mrs. Burleigh's action in attempting to break through police lines to get at Weese precipitated one of the most exciting riots in the history of the city. Three men were also arrested. (Staff Photograph.)

Top right: THREE men and one woman were arrested last night for attempting to interfere with police escorting Provincial Welfare Inspector Walter S. Weese through a milling mob of unemployed after the city council meeting at which a 20 per cent, relief cut was discussed. At the top left, police are seen seizing Charles Newbury. Top right, Mrs. Harry Burleigh, after her arrest. She was either pushed, as she claimed, or attempted to slap Mr. Weese. Below a group of officers are seen scuffling with Harry Burleigh, a moment after his arrest, one of the officers holding his umbrella.

Bottom left: A SECTION of the crowd of 600 persons who gathered last night in front of the Windsor City Hall is shown here during the early part of the evening just after rain had commenced falling. Soap-box oratory was in full swing when this picture was snapped and the rostrum for all comers is midway up the steps and to the right. It was in the location pictured in the lower left that the rioting took place later in the evening when three men and one woman were arrested. Welfare Inspector Walter S. Weese, target for the mob's violence, was roughly handled just as he reached the steps in the lower left of the picture, and arrests were made just to the left of where the crowd on the extreme left stands. Rain fell throughout the three-hour meeting, soaking audience and speakers alike as they hurled a verbal barrage of scathing references against city officials in session within the building. (By Staff Photographer.)

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