A Missoula Mob – 1897
Prof. Reitz Doused With Foul Water, Seltzer And Rattlesnake’s Best.
Followed to His Hotel Amid a Shower of Overripe Hen Fruit – Who’s to Blame?
Prof. E. C. Reitz proprietor of the Garden City Commercial college received rough treatment last night shortly after midnight at the hands of a Missoula mob. The affair occurred at the Florence hotel. The crowd was composed of men, well known in town, who gave the professor some idea as to what it was to be in the hands of a mob. Prof. Reitz has many enemies in Missoula, which were contracted through his connection with the so-called reform movement. With others he opposed the running of the variety theatres, and commenced a deadly warfare that was successful in closing them. Prof. Reitz was an instrument in the hands of others and the reform movement. He was credited with being their detective and spy, in watching places which it was claimed were run contrary to law. For some time there has been speculation as to how promptly the gambling law would be complied with, and last night when the new law, prohibiting gambling was to go into effect, Prof. Reitz, accompanied by his assistant Prof. Rouser were down town about midnight, and it was thought by more than one that they had come down to spy around and see whether the law was recognized. That they had a right to come down and frequent places that other men do without being molested is beyond question. There were, however, people in Missoula who did not propose to grant them that privilege. The two visited several saloons, and especially the ones where a game of faro had been conducted, as also did many others, who were on hand to attend the funeral of King Faro.
As Reitz and Rouser were coming past the Florence hotel, someone from the second story window dropped the contents of a bucket of slop upon the head of Prof. Reitz. He rushed into the bar room of the hotel, which was well filled with men. Many of them jeered him in anything but a pleasant manner. Being considerably wrought up by such usage, Prof. Reitz was not slow in expressing himself in a gentlemanly manner. About this time some one came up with a seltzer bottle, and pressing the tube, the contents began to fly upon the professor. This done he walked into the hotel office and was there confronted with the end of a water hose and was commanded to get out of the hotel, as they were going to scrub out. He did not go and water, with all force was turned upon him. His clothes were wet through to the skin and still he remained, until he was finally evicted bodily from the hotel. He and Prof. Rouser started toward the Rankin house, a block away, when they were pursued by the same mob and egged until they entered the Rankin.
About this time Chief of Police Angevine came upon the scene and the crowd dispersed. Professors Reitz and Rouser were taken home by the officers. None of the mob were masked and all who took an active part in the affair are well known and warrants for their arrest may possibly be sworn out.
When the outcome will be is unknown but it is thought to be the beginning of some measure to stop mob law in Missoula.
The above article appeared in the Daily Missoulian on July 1, 1897.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/349066534/
After considerable turmoil in city circles, a grand jury convened later that month and three men, William Brayton, George Omer, and Joseph K. Wood, were arrested. They were required to post $500 bail and ordered to appear in court on July 21 for arraignment. The three were then indicted for ‘riot’, but in a district court trial on July 30 the men were acquitted.