Jack Merton A Street Episode Notorious Jack MERTON Figures in Another Affair this Afternoon Contributed by: Kay
MERTON Jack
Oshkosh Daily Northwestern July 3, 1879
A STREET EPISODE
Notorious Jack MERTON Figures in Another Affair this Afternoon.
An exciting episode took pace on Main street, near the corner of Algoma this afternoon, in which the notorious policeman, Jack MERTON, again made himself conspicuous. To what extent he may be culpable in his actions as an officer the NORTHWESTERN will not at present pretend to say, preferring to await the sworn testimony before the coming trial for a more just understanding of the circumstances and situations in the case. It appears a fact, however, that in conversation between MERTON and M. H. EATON, the latter made answer to an assertion of MERTON's, saying that who ever made such a statement (referring to what MERTON had said) was a d--d liar. MERTON threatened to arrest EATON, whereupon EATON turned to Chief of Police FORD and with a toss of his hand over his shoulder told him he had better take care of his understrapper (referring to MERTON). Just how the scene that followed took place there are various statements. EATON claims that with the remark he turned to walk away, when MERTON pounced upon him from behind. At any rate there was a clinch and a scuffle in which EATON got MERTON by the throat, and the two went to grass. FORD came to the rescue to separate the two and he also went down in the scuffle, and the three were rolling and squirming on the sidewalk. EATON was finally overpowered, and MERTON pulled out his hand-cuffs and endeavored to put them on EATON's wrists. This, however, was not done, and with FORD on one side and MERTON on the other EATON was marched through the streets of Justice JACKSON's office, where the complaint was made against him for disorderly conduct. A large crowd that had by this time collected followed the trio down street, and the episode became the general theme of discussion.
The chief point in the affair is whether EATON resisted an officer who had just cause for arresting him, or whether Jack MERTON pounced upon EATON and assaulted him for obnoxious language towards him personally. The general sentiment that the latter was the true version of the matter. However, the evidence to be brought out will fully determine the point. EATON had retained FINCH & BARBER and C. W. FELKER to defend him. He has demanded a jury trial.
