Davenport Democrat Davenport, Scott, Iowa July 20, 1924 REFORM WAVE OF W.W. LUNGER AND CAPT. NEAL MOST STIRRING EPOCHS IN ANNALS OF DAVENPORT. (continued.) Neal is Arrested. The sight of Attorney Neal flourishing his revolver had put a temporary effect in holding back the crowd for no sooner had he proceeded down the street in the direction of his office than the crowd was after him again. Reaching Second and Harrison streets, Mr. Neal entered his office and the crowd surrounded it until a squad of policemen arrived and dispersed them. In the meantime Dr. Paul Radenhausen had gone to the office of Magistrate Roddewig and secured a warrant for the arrest of Capt. Neal, charging him with carrying concealed weapons. Mr. Neal was placed under arrest and escorted to the police station, where he posted a bond in the sum of $100 for appearance for trial the following day. The "reform" attorney was then escorted to his home in the Andresen flats on West Third street, opposite Washington square. A crowd of several hundred insisted on following him to his home, altho they were kept on the opposite side of the street by one of the officers. That same night, Capt. Neal was hung in effigy in the public square opposite his home. Mob Still Pursues. A surging mass of humanity constituting even a larger crowd than the day before assembled at the police station on October 15, 1907, to witness the trial of Attorney C.W. Neal, charged with carrying concealed weapons. Capt. Neal appeared early for trail and after stating to the court his reasons for pulling the gun on the mob pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $5 and costs. Just before the fine was imposed Dr. Radenhausen interrupted the court with the remark, "Your honor, this is an extraordinary case." He was stopped by the presiding magistrate, who informed him that he was trying the case. No sooner had the fine been imposed than Dr. Radenhausen again spoke up and demanded that Captain Neal be searched right away for another gun. The court refused to grant the request accepting Capt. Neal's word that he had now weapons on his person. Crowd in Waiting. At the conclusion of the trial, Capt. Neal walked into the police station proper and took a seat behind the enclosure where the desk sergeant's headquarters were located. He remained here for an hour waiting for the gathering to disperse, but they continued to remain on the outside of the building and crowded into the hallway and outer rooms of the police station. After an hour's wait, Capt. Neal asked that an escort of police should take him to the Masonic temple. The request was granted, and as soon as Mr. Neal emerged from the station the crowd let up a vast yell of derision and followed him and the officers down the street, hooting and calling the alleged reformer all kinds of names. The officers kept the crowd at a safe distance from Mr. Neal and no harm was done him. At the Masonic temple, Capt. Neal went to the Shriner's rooms on the upper floor, where he remained with the officers as a bodyguard until noon. He then proceeded to his home in the Andresen flats under escort of the officers. After packing his grip, he returned to the Masonic temple, where he remained until time for the departure of the Rock Island train for Des Moines. Capt. Neal took his departure for Des Moines amid rather unusual surroundings. Accompanied by the officers, he was escorted to the railway station. Here he met Mr. Kemmerer, who after bidding him farewell took his departure and did not wait to see the train pull out. At the depot, when Capt. Neal arrived, there was a brass band of some 20 pieces. As he started for the train, the band struck up Chopin's funeral march. Again as the train pulled out, a funeral dirge was sounded, and the crowd revealed its feelings by hissing Capt. Neal. The only disturbance was caused by Emil Speth, an ex-saloon keeper and later a member of the police force. In the depot building he threatened Mr. Neal and made several lunges at him but was prevented by officers in attendance from doing any bodily harm. Altho Capt. Neal announced he was going to Des Moines on official business and would return to Davenport within a few days, he failed to make good his word in this respect. The scenes he had passed thru in the Civil war were hardly more stirring than those of the past few days in Davenport and undoubtedly he breathed a sigh of relief when he realized he was out of the city and beyond harm at the hands of its infuriated citizens. From Des Moines, Capt. Neal went to Seattle, and several years ago his death was reported in a Soldiers' home in the west. He had lost his profession, his fortune, and his friends, and died practically alone and penniless. His ill gotten gains as the citizens styled them, served him to no good end. His was the inglorious finish accorded to the majority of bogus reformers. ------- How the Town was Placed on Water Wagon. On the first day of January, 1908, there were 191 saloons in Davenport and 49 in the county outside of Davenport, making a total of 240 such places. On the first day of January 1910, two years later, there were 151 saloons in the city and 23 in the county, making a total of 174, showing a reduction of 40 saloons in the city and 26 in the county, a total of 66. During these two years the Civic Federation brought 118 injunction suits and instituted 41 cases for contempt of court. It secured 97 permanent injunctions. By this time gambling and the red-light district had been completely obliterated and all saloons were as a rule living up to the requirements of the Mulct law. After this came the new state law compelling all cities to reduce their number of saloons to one for every 1,000 of population. This elimination measure was in process in Davenport when the state wide prohibition law, effective Jan. 1, 1916, was passed. Cathy Joynt Labath Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/index.htm Iowa Old Press http://www.IowaOldPress.com/