Historical Record: The 1911 Roseburg Store "Near-Riot"

Roseburg, IN – On this day in 1911, a disturbance inside the Tudor general store in Roseburg escalated into what contemporary newspaper reports described as a "near-riot." The incident resulted in significant damage to the store and injuries to several men, prompting the intervention of Sheriff George and Deputy Lenox to effect arrests. The following account is transcribed as originally published in the Marion News-Tribune on September 10, 1911, utilizing the terminology of that era.

The report stated that Jim Hodges, having recently finished a jail sentence, entered the store at approximately 5 p.m. in a state of extreme intoxication. When the proprietor, B.E. Tudor, ordered him to leave, the situation became abusive. George Hodges, the father of Jim, intervened to assist his son, and a fight ensued involving store owners B.E. and Charles Tudor. The conflict quickly spilled into the road, where participants exchanged stones as missiles. Local eye-witnesses described the event as a "great ruction."

Sheriff George and Deputy Lenox arrived at the battleground in the Harry Hudson automobile to restore order. Jim Hodges was subsequently taken to the county jail, suffering from wounds to his head and body. Both Tudors were reported to have sustained minor injuries. Jim Hodges, identified in the report as a known community nuisance, was later removed from the list of jail "trusties" to complete his term in a cell following his return from an unauthorized departure to Wabash. The report highlights historical views on law enforcement and social conduct in the early 20th century.

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