Seven Against Rutland

The comedy of the Rhode Island Senate, begun with the bursting of a gas-bomb behind the Lieutenant Governor's chair in the Senate Chamber, continued with the emigration of the Republican majority to Massachusetts (TIME, June 30, July 7), went still a step further.

The Republican Senators, who had settled down to spend the Summer at Rutland, Mass., waited to see what their angered Democratic colleagues would do. The Democratic Senators assisted by a Democratic Governor and Lieutenant Governor did what they could. They got two witnesses who testified that the Chairman of the Republican State Committee had instigated the placing of the ludicrous bomb. The witnesses also declared that one "Toots" Murray had actually placed the bomb.

An automobile was procured and seven men jumped into it. One was the chauffeur. Two were Assistant Attorneys General of Rhode Island. Two were Police Inspectors of Providence. The remaining two were the witnesses. The automobile rolled over the State line into Massachusetts. It went to Rutland where it was hoped to arrest "Toots" Murray, who was reported to be acting as a guard to protect the Republican Senators from being kidnapped. Mr. Murray was not found, but suddenly in the dark watches of the night the Officers of the Massachusetts law descended upon the Officers of the Rhode Island law.

The Rhode Island men were carried off to the police station -arrested as suspicious characters. They telephoned back to the Governor of Rhode Island. He remonstrated with the Massachusetts law to release his Officers. Massachusetts declined. At 1 a. m. the seven hapless Rhode Islanders were locked in separate cells. Nor did they get out till some time later, when a local Attorney furnished bail.