Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-06
ALLEGES .TRESPASS
COMMANDANT OF NAVY YARD
WANTS POLICE TO ACT.
he Wants to Prevent Unauthorized
Dumping on the Land Re
Gently Acquired.

Rear Admiral Silas W. Terry, command
ant of the Washington navy yard. recently
forwarded to the District Commissioners a
copy Of a letter from the commanding
marine officer at the station relative to
trespassing Oil the ground west of the navy
yard and requesting that the police be au-
thorized to prevent dumping on the land.
The letter In question was signed by Major
H. X. White Of the Marine Corps. and in 1t
he gives an account OF the marine guard
discovering men trespassing on the ground
recently acquired by the United States for
an addition to the yard, and which was for
merly used as a dump.
Inc men ran away, rid1cuhng the marines
as they went. One of the marine guard
fired his pistol in the air to attract the at
tention of a District policeman In the dis
lance. The policeman captured one of the
trespassers.
''The first negro was brought in by the
police" said Maj. White, latter reporting
the case to headquarters. and the officer of
the day decided that as he had not been
apprehended on government property he
could not hold him.
Continuing, Maj. White said the marines
who do duty on the new ground are fire.
quently subject to much vile abuse from
the men about the streets, largely those
who take advantage of every opportunity
to go over the ground.
Commissioner West referred the matter
to the police department, and Major Syl-
vester, the superintendent. called for a
report from Lieutenant McCathran of the
fifth precinct. "Why should a member of
the police force making an arrest for tres
passing upon United States government
property take the prisoner to the officer of
the day." inquired Major Sylvester, when
transmitting the papers to Lieutenant Nc
Cathran. '"rhis seems to be curious state
of affairs and deserves Investigation. You
will please have your men cooperate with
the marines in protecting this property and
keeping away trespassers and that class
whom they charge with calling the ma
rines vile names and who from this re-
port / Judge create disorder in this vicin-
ity'
Lieutenant McCathran has reported that
the officer who captured the man escaping
from the marine guard did not know what
offense he had committed. He was taken
to the navy yard gate, where they learned
he had been trespassing on government
property. AS the officers had no charge
against him and the naval authorities de-
clined to prosecute, the man was left in
charge of the guard. 1t was reported that
the marines made no complaint that they
had been abused by this man or any Others
Maj. Sylvester says the police will gladly
cooperate with the marine authorities in
preventing further trespassing on the
ground, and do what they can. with the
limited force at command. to prevent dump
ing there It is quite difficult for the police
to give attention to the various places
property and at the same time give a care
full surveillance to the lives and property
Of the residents throughout the District Of
Columbia. Commissioner West has recon-
mended that the navy yard authorities be
Informed accordingly.