1881 Gang of Ruffians Infest the City of Olean

North Olean History - Gang of Ruffians Infest the City of Olean

Sometime since the Herald advised a summary dealing with the gang of ruffians who infested Olean and by their petty thieving and cowardly bulldozing managed to eke out an existence, while poor laborers were obliged to stand the brunt of the expense. A case, which for diabolical meanness and evident criminal intent had few equals, came up before one of our justices on October 19, 1881. The penalty, which though probably was all that the court could impose, was wholly out of proportion with the deed. The facts in the case were as follows:
One Loudon Willis, a colored man of reputed good standing had, since the opening of the oyster season, been selling the sportive bivalve on our streets. All the ladies along his route had looked upon the humble and faithful dispenser of the oysters as a public benefactor, as he saved many a step and always gave two full pints for a quart, with no extra charge for the verbal salad, which he invariably furnished.
It was while Loudan was engaged on his daily round, and had reached a point near Phillip Zimmerman's hotel, in the Fourth Ward, that a transaction occurred which not only caused Loudon to doubt the eternal fitness of things, but also seriously discouraged the domestic plans of a numerous number of purchasers. Loudon was slowly plodding on down the street, when three ruffians set upon him from the rear. One of these villains, George Fletcher, by name grabbed the appendages of London's coat and raising them up and quickly drawing them forward and held them down over his head in such a way that Loudon was seriously handicapped. When this had been done, the other two began pounding him on the head and he was thrown to the ground, where one of the miscreants kicked Loudon on the left side of his head, just above and back of the eye, cutting a severe and dragged gash about one inch in length. At this juncture, "Hank" Johnson, the popular Buzzell House barber, came on the scene and gave one of the cowardly curs a 'shoulder hitter' such completely scattered all his poorly defined ideas of the manly art and seriously discommoded the other two who, seeing help arriving of their fallen victim, relaxed their efforts to keep him down. Seeing his opportunity Loudon made an effort and was soon on his feet, and with one well directed blow he dropped one of his assailants, who quickly regained his feet and sought his companions, who had discovered the necessity of immediate and precipitate flight. In the melee, Loudon's can, containing several quarts of oysters, were knocked over and the contents mingled with mud.
A warrant was issued charging George Fletcher, the only one of the wretches who could be found, with assault and battery. Fletcher was brought before 'Squire' Johnson, who decided that the defendant must pay a fine of $10.50 for the destruction of the bivalves and the damage done to Loudon's physiognomy.
Reporter note---"Perhaps there are those who would like to be thumped upon the head in this manner for the sum of $10, but just at the present writing there are none to signify such a desire."

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