Hallowe'en Wild Night in Marietta and Lawlessness Results in Many Arrests

 The Marietta Daily Times, November 1, 1929

Marietta police declare that Thursday night was the wildest they have experienced in many years. Dozens of calls were answered in nearly every section of the city. Numerous arrests were made and a busy session of court was held by the mayor on Friday morning.

Destruction of property was reported in many parts of the city. The boys and young men celebrated Hallowe'en and they failed by a wide margin to confine their energy to harmless things.

One of the favorite diversions seemed to be the breaking of electric lights. Porch lights were knocked out at many points and even the street lamps suffered. The usual trick in the case of a street light was to untie the rope and let the light crash to the street. Lem Hess, city electrical superintendent, estimates the damage in his department at $75.

One of the worst outbreaks occurred on Phillips Street, where five boys bombarded the Carl Wunderlich automobile with pumpkins. The car, a new one, was damaged considerably. From that stunt the boys turned their attention to the home of W. M. Jones, where they smeared up the porch and plastered the front lawn with chicken feathers.

Jones chased the boys down the street, firing a 38-calibre revolver at them. The police brought the boys and Jones to headquarters. Earl Steed and Raymond Stegner were placed in jail while their three companions, Lewis Klein, Denver McCain, and William Becker, were ordered in on Friday. Jones also was ordered to come before the mayor. On Friday morning the case was certified to probate court.

Another outbreak occurred on lower Putnam Street where Hugh Smith and Roy Barnes engaged in a fight. They were under the influence of liquor, according to the police, and the battle was a vicious one. Both were arrested. Barnes' wife later secured his release by posting a bond of $100. The pair pleaded guilty on Friday to fighting charges and each was fined $15 and costs. Barnes paid both fines. Smith, it developed Friday morning, had sustained a broken shoulder in the fight.

Lat Thursday evening Mrs. Nellie Baker called for the police. She reported that Hugh Perry had attacked and beaten her in front of the post office property. Perry was arrested. He was fined $5 and costs on Friday and paid.

Elmer Lang, arrested in the city park, demonstrated to the world that he has one faithful friend - his dog. When Lang went behind the bars his dog raised such a commotion that he too was allowed to enter the jail and he slept on one of the iron cots along with Lang. The latter was fined $5 and costs on Friday.