The Davis City Advance, Davis City, Iowa
Thursday, February 4, l897

Some parties from the country brought a jug of liquor to town last Friday afternoon and proceeded to load up, and make themselves generally obnoxious by loud, profane and indecent language. It appears that about night, FRANCE and SAM HAMILTON secured the jug, and were soon loaded, also.

They hold a grudge against JOHN GRIMES on account of his statements at Des Moines at the trial of young ALLEN, and they concluded this would be a good time to settle it, so about 11 o'clock they went into the office of the Horton House where young GRIMES was sitting with ALPH SPARKS, G.A. BARBER, O. WILSON and MR. SHIRLEY. No attention was paid to them and the party soon rose to retire. FRANCE had taken up a position behind GRIMES and as he rose from the chair, struck him in the back of the head with a brass knuckle. GRIMES turned and grappled him when SAM rushed to the rescue with a poker. for this he got a tap with a chair that he will remember by the scar.

The row was soon quieted, Marshall Sylvester was called in and soon the blood was cleaned up and all parties went home. It is to be regretted that FRANCE did not get a good clip, for his assault was most cowardly and brutal.

Both were allowed to go, and next day, realizing the gravity of the deed, they emigrated to Missouri, where it is to be hoped they will go.

The real cause of this occurrance lies in the fact that parties are allowed to drink whiskey and carouse around the streets, without hindrance until a row is started. We need a set of officers in Davis City who will promptly suppress the first symptom of disorder.

These disorders have occurred frequently for many years, and have been winked at by the officers, and it is time a change occurred.

A few prompt arrests, and the hoodlum element would take a back road to Davis City. It is not believed our boys are worse than those in other towns, for we believe they are better than some of our more pretentious neighbors. The trouble has been nearer the head and should be remedied.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
September 23, 2003