``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Thursday October 28, 1915 Chicago, Illinois - Samuel Kapper, Striking Tailor, Shot Dead by Scab-Three Wounded
The Chicago Day Book of October 27th reported:
Samuel Kapper ````` STRIKER IS DEAD- TWO ARE INJURED-GUN FIGHTStaccato barks of a gun; the surge of a mob that excitement creates; a pool of blood in a sink in the sidewalk; a man lying face in pool, dead. The first murder of the garment workers' strike was done last night.
Sam'l Kapper, 35, 2147 Crystal pi., deaf and dumb striking tailor, was killed. Three were wounded: Sam'l Siegel, 23, 1115 S. Loomis st., shot below right ear; Wm. Whelen, 49, 2124 W. Harrison st., innocent bystander, bullet in breast; unidentified man.
With a smoking gun in his hand, Tony Panichi, strikebreaker. Scotch Woolen Mills, was arrested. He admitted firing one shot. Many witnesses say they saw or heard him fire at least five shots.
Panichi and his wife, with perhaps two others, were walking on Halsted near Harrison. Trouble started. Witnesses say Panichi's wife handed him a gun and he began shooting. Panichi's wife told police she did hand husband a gun.
First Deputy Schuettler is trying to alibi the police department by blaming, first, city council for ruling against hired sluggers, and then the strikers, whom he intimates are liars.
Schuettler is so confident of the untruthfulness of testimony presented to the council committee which investigated the strike that he has ordered his department to visit garment factories and homes of strikebreakers in an endeavor to rake up some testimony of strikebreakers being mistreated by strikers.
Schuettler issued this general order:
To commanding officers: You will canvass each garment factory and ascertain the employes who have been assaulted; also those who have been threatened. You will verify same by calling at homes of persons alleged to have been assaulted. Schuettler, wants this dope quick. The order calls for a complete report by 9 a. m. tomorrow. It is believed he wants to get stories of strikebreakers being beaten in order to offset the gigantic list of brutalities the police have committed upon frail bodies of women strikers. The council investigating committee did not find a single instance of a strikebreaker having been molested by strikers.While Schuettler was at Desplaines station Sidney Hillman, president of striking garment workers, came into the room. "If you don't get out in a hurry I will kick you out," Schuettler shouted at him.
The police department is paid by the city. An impression has gained that police think they are paid by and beholden to employers.
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Further reporting from The Day Book can be found below the fold.