Places Rail In Road, Farmer Is Hauled To Court

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press of November 10, 1922. William Clawson, Ypsilanti Township farmer, arrested on a charge of ‘assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than the crime of murder’ following his attack upon George Shock, waived examination when arraigned before Justice Thomas in Ann Arbor yesterday and was bound over to the December term of the circuit court. Clawson was arrested by deputy sheriff Dick Elliott Wednesday. According to the story told Justice Thomas, Clawson had placed rail along the side of the road to prevent men who were working on the road from driving on his lawn. The men, George and Fred Shock, and C. M. Bissell had been plowing up the road to get it in shape for the winter, and in order to do this they must drive upon the Clawson land. Finding the rails there, one of the men started to take them away when Clawson came out with a shot gun which he pointed at George Shock. The two Shock man took the gun away and at once went to Ann Arbor where the complaint was made. Clawson was arrested the following day and taken to Ann Arbor. Following his release deputy sheriff Elliott told him the rails must be taken away immediately or he would be arrested again. According to neighbors the rails have not been removed. Dwight Crittenden, highway commissioner, had previously complained of Clawson’s placing the rail in the road, but he had failed to remove them.