———-
———-
WE NEVER FORGET
Young Men Shot Down by State Guardsmen
September 10-13, 1919, During the Boston Police Strike
During the Boston Police Strike of 1919, six young men were gunned down by Massachusetts State Guardsmen who had been ordered into the city of Boston by Governor Calvin Coolidge. Five young men, ranging in ages from 15 to 31, were executed for the crime of playing craps on the street corners. One was killed for running away after an argument with a guardsman.
Robert Sheehan-15
Henry Grote-16
Raymond Barnes-18
Gustave Geist-25
Anthony Czar-30
Arthur B. McGill-31
From The Boston Daily Globe of September 11, 1919:
Soldiers Fire Into
South Boston Mob
-Two Dead and
Several WoundedState Guardsmen, members of the 10th Regiment, fired in a crowd of men at the corner of Broadway and C st, South Boston, at 11:20 last night [Wednesday September 10] Thomas Carr [later identified as Anthony Czar] of 210 Broadway, South Boston, was almost instantly killed. Robert Sheehan, aged 19, of 215 L st, died at the Carney Hospital…..
The guardsmen were formed in skirmish line across the street, facing what is said to have been a menacing crowd when the volley was fired…..
The crowd still remained defiant and another order was issued, and this time the shots went into the crowd, felling five…..
———-
Man Killed in Howard St.
[…..]A third man was shot and killed in Howard st in the evening; this, however, was in a typical West End street fight, and was not in any contest between police, volunteer police or soldiery with the crowd…..
From Boston Evening Globe of September 11, 1919:
—–
From The Boston Daily Globe of September 12, 1919:
By FRANK P. SIBLEY
Yesterday was a day of comparative quiet in Boston, though three more deaths were added to the list of those directly due to the strike of the Boston Police. Up to last night six men have been killed and a great many have been hurt; of the injured five are women…..
The first man killed yesterday was shot by a State Guardsman on Boston Common, following the arrest of 44 men and boys who were shooting craps. The victim was Raymond Barnes, 18 years old, a sailor, who lived in Cambridge. The second man was Henry Grote of 16 Cable st, Jamaica Plain, who also was shot by a Guardsman at a crap game near the Boylston station in Jamaica Plain.
—–
[…..]
Striking Policeman Killed
The first shooting affair of yesterday was very unfortunate for the cause of the striking policemen. The victim was former patrolman Richard Reemts, who was attached to the Roxbury Crossing station.
He was 36 years old, married, and lived at 14 Akron st, Roxbury. He is the first of the striking patrolmen to be accused of joining the marauders and attacking the volunteer police who have been serving in the streets for two days.
Reemts and another former patrolman, Arthur D. Shea, drove up to the corner of Columbus av and Buckingham st in an automobile. There were several more men with them.
Reemts and Shea-and it is said others in the automobile party set upon John Reid of Belmont and Thomas H. Gammack, a Harvard student, who lives in Cambridge; they took away the young volunteers revolvers and clubs, and were manhandling them when Sergt John D. McDonald of Station 5, who was nearby, ran up and interfered single-handed.
—–
Karp Fires in Self-Defense
The sergeant jumped onto the car which Shea was operating and held it up with his revolver. Reemts ran toward the store of Abraham M. Karp at 199 Columbus av, and Karp, thinking the man was coming to attack and rob him, fired and brought Reemts down.
The former policeman was taken to the City Hospital with an abdominal wound so serious that though he stood the operation well, he died last night.
Karp was arrested, and Shea. In fact, Sergt McDonald forced Shea to drive his car, with the sergeant and Karp in it, to the nearest police station. There it was found that Shea had still a revolver belonging to the Police Department. He did not turn it in when he left work. His captain said it was because Shea, who was shot in the thumb in the May Day riot in Roxbury, has not since done street duty. His revolver was at home when he left work on Tuesday.
Shooting at Crap Game.
The second shooting yesterday came about 11 a m, when a squad of Guardsmen set about cleaning up one of the crap-game gangs on the Common. They surrounded and arrested 44 boys and men, and started to march them off to Station 4, making the prisoners keep their hands up.
A few shots were fired as they went along, and of course there was more or less rush toward the group by passersby. In the crowd was Raymond Barnes, 18 years old, of 110 Austin st, Cambridge. He was sailor in the Merchant Marine.
He heard the shooting, but shouted to a boy who was with him: “They are only shooting in the air.”
Then he rushed forward to get a nearer view of what was going on; the crowd was milling about in great excitement, and probably before he knew it himself Barnes was running straight at one of the Guardsmen.
—–
Barnes Killed on Common
The soldier was probably as much surprised as Barnes himself. He dropped to one knee, with his gun pointing upward, and fired when Barnes was close to him. The shot struck the sailor in the neck, making a terrible wound. Barnes still came on, and the Guardsman put his bayonet against the sailors breast, when he saw that the man was really falling.
Then he put the gun aside and caught at Barnes arm, easing him to the ground. The sailor was carried into a drug store at the corner Tremont and Boylston st, and died there.
The 44 prisoners were marched down to the La Grange st station in the midst of a good deal of excitement, but no further rush was made at the guard.
Later the prisoners were arraigned before Chief Justice Bolster in the Municipal Court. He discharged them all because the arresting troops could not positively identify them.
—–
Four Shot in Jamaica Plain
The evening, shooting in Jamaica Plain, was the saddest story so far told during the strike. According to the first accounts obtainable, a group of boys and young men were either playing craps in Amory st, or else-in the Guardsmen’s version-trying to take off a manhole cover.
Two Guardsmen came up, and the group of boys ran. The Guards shouted to them to halt, or they would be fired upon. The boys kept on running, and each Guardsman fired one shot, killing Henry Grote, aged 20.
Three others were wounded: Arthur English, aged 16, of 14 Jeff st; Carson McWilliams, aged 18, of 84 Boylston st, and John J. Powers, 25, of 16 Marmion st. McWilliams’ wound was so serious that he is not expected to live.
[Image of McWilliams and Grote added.]
—–
COMPLETE LIST OF KILLED…SINCE
THE POLICE STRIKE BEGAN IN BOSTON
—–
—–
—–
From Boston Evening Globe of September 13, 1919:
—–[…..]
As the result of a dispute with a State Guardsman at the corner of Tremont and Boylston sts at 11:30 this morning, Gustave Geist, 25, of 3 Monadnock st, Dorchester, is dead, and Mary Jacques, 42, of 12 Hemenway st, is at the Haymarket Relief Hospital with a wound above the knee. She was hit accidentally by the same bullet which killed Geist.
According to bystanders, Geist entered into a violent argument with the guardsman on duty on the Common Side of the corner. He then attempted to take the soldiers gun away from him and a struggle ensued. The guardsman on the opposite corner saw his comrade struggling with a civilian and dashed across the street.
Geist broke away and ran toward the Touraine. One of the soldiers (the story varies here) fired and Geist fell. He died a few moments later. The bullet passed through Geist’s chest and struck Mrs. Jacques, who was crossing the street….
Police Headquarters Story
Police headquarters gave out its version of the killing of Geist early this afternoon.
According to the police, Geist was sauntering along the street and stopped. A guardsman ordered him to keep moving. Geist, who is of Russian birth, expressed a dislike for the guardsman’s tone of voice and manner.
Geist is said to have told the guardsman that he talked too loud, and then seized the soldiers bayonet, the police say, whereupon the guardsman called for the corporal of the guard.
As the corporal started across the street, Geist ran. The corporal shot he fleeing man.
In a pocket of the victim, the police say, were found a pair of brass knuckles.
Inspector Dennessy later informed the reporter that some Red literature had been found In Geist’s possession.
Note: Emphasis added throughout.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOURCES & IMAGES
The Boston Daily Globe
(Boston, Massachusetts)
-Sept 11, 1919
https://www.newspapers.com/image/428544597/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/428544601/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/428544603/
-Sept 12, 1919
https://www.newspapers.com/image/428544633/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/428544638/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/428544639
Boston Evening Globe
(Boston, Massachusetts)
-Sept 11, 1919
https://www.newspapers.com/image/428544615/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/428544620/
-Sept 13, 1919
https://www.newspapers.com/image/428544681
https://www.newspapers.com/image/428544682
IMAGE of McWilliams & Grote
The Boston Sunday Globe p5 of Sept 14, 1919
https://www.newspapers.com/image/428544717/
See also:
Boston Police Strike
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Police_Strike
Note: this is a good account of the Boston Police Strike of 1919. However, with regard to those killed during the strike:
Robert Lallie-report of death seems to be an error by an AP reporter. The name appears in newspapers distant from Boston, but never in the Boston Globe‘s coverage of the strike. AP reporter most likely got last name of Sheehan wrong.
Miss Margaret Walsh-report of death was declared to be a “hoax” by Boston Globe. Person by this name received a minor injury unrelated to the strike.
The Boston Daily Globe
(Boston, Massachusetts)
-Sept 12, 1919
https://www.newspapers.com/image/428544642/?terms=%22miss%2Bmargaret%2Bwalsh%22
States story of death of Margaret Walsh due to bullet wounds inflicted by guardsmen was a hoax. There was a Miss Margaret Walsh, aged 20, who was treated for slight scalp wound from stone thrown by small boy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Red Flag