The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-30
CLAIM SOLDIER
WAS CLUBBED
ECHO OF FOOTBALL GAME
COL. ANDERSON MAKES COMPLAINT
TO POLICE CHIEF.

Was Held by Two Omcers While
Third CIubbed HIm-POIice side of
story Mt Decided Variance-Super-
infendent VIII Ask for Mayors
Investigation if Necessary.
eff il takes three Savannah police
men, with clubs and fists TO arrest one
small unarned enlisted man, either
this soldier is a menace to discipline
and should be restrained within the
limits of the post, or else the policemen
referred 10 were a cowardly trio and
brttally discriminative against man
"a native Of this state-who, thus far
during his service. has worn with hon
or the uniform of United States ar
tilleryman."
The above is the concluding para
graph to Capt. H. H. Whitney's report
TO Col. Anderson of the arrest of Corpl.
Wagnon at the football game last
Thursday.
The superintendent of police yester-
day received a vigorous protest from
Col. Anderson concerning the treat
rent of Corpl. Wagnon when he re-
sisted arrest at the ball park during
the progress of the football game De
tween Jacksonville and Savannah. Col
Anderson, with the information which
was furnished him. stated IN his letter
to the superintendent, that unless MS
men could be furnished better protec-
tion. he would decline to issue them
passes TO see football games in Sa-
vannah in the future.
story of the Trouble.
Those who attended the football
game Thursday remember the crowd
which gathered around two patrol
men in charge of a struggling soldier.
This was Corpl Wagnon with PATROL
man Mccarthy and Sergt. Murphy
conducting him from the grounds.
In his report TO Col. Anderson, Capt
Whitney says: From what 1 can learn
from civilian eve witnesses (who 1t is
therefore presumed were not unduly
preiudiced in favor of the soldier),
Corpl. Wagnon, in the uniform Of his
grade and in a sober condition, join
ed several hundred spectators, who
had rushed onto the field towards
dusk, when it seemed that the game
had broken up.
good deal of disorder and excitement
which the police were powerless TO
oueIl. The corporal, without warning,
or direct provocation on his part, was
struck on the elbow from behind with
a policeman's club. He protested, and
in the melee hit the policeman. He
was then grabbed by two more ponce
men and dubbed on the head, while
the first guardian of the peace slipped
around in front and struck him in the
face after he had been safely secured.
Police chief Investigates.
AS soon as he received the CORE
spondence from Col. Anderson the
superintendent of police instituted
vigorous examination Of all the wit
nesses available.
Patrolman Mccarthy who was on
duty on the southern side of the held,
was the officer who arrested Wagnon.
Oficer Mccarthy said he pulled the
soldier back Just as he was in the act
of striking Yancy, of the Jackson
VILE team. He said the man fought
and 1erked so he was unable to keep
his hold on him. He caught hold of
him the second time, when the soldier
struck at him and cursed him, then
he struck him with his fist, never once
drawing his club, although he felt that
under all the circumstances he mad
a perfect right to do So.
II cautioned the man that he was
liable to get into trouble, said PATROL
man Mccarthy. Il did not want TO
arrest him. but he seemed to be drink
players again, and then l arrested him
and started to take him from the field.
He fought vigorously, and called me
all manner of names. Sergt Murphy
came up, and together we carried him
off. l did not strike him with my club,
and never even thought of drawing
They Wanted Yancy Boys.
Patrolman Futch, who was also on
trn q stated
that early in the game two soldiers
together on the side line kept getting
through the fence. One of these. he
said, waved a $40 bill at the officer
and said: Hello Futch, do you want
to make a SO bill? II you do, let us
get through this fence and fix that
Yancy."
II laughed and told the man TO
keep his S10" said Patrolman Futch.
II thought no more Of the incident
until l saw the soldier on the field
cursing a Jacksonville player named
Yancy, and as he attempted to strike
the player Mccarthy caught hold of
him. / did not see officer Mccarthy
draw his club, nor did l see him
strike the soldier. did see them carry
ing him off the grounds. and heard a
few minutes later that the superin-
tendent had ordered him released"
Sergt. Murphy substantiated PATROL
man McCarthy's statement, and on the
strength of these reports the superin-
tendent wrote to Col Anderson last
night, attaching the statements of the
officers, and assuring him that nothing
would be left undone to punish any
one who might have been guilty OF
conduct unbecoming an officer. The
superintendent thanked Col Anderson
for calling his attention to the case in
question, and stated II 1t were the de-
sire of the post commander he would
recommend TO the Mayor that an in
vestigation be held, at which he would
summon any witnesses whom the mill
tary authorities might desire.
Feel Kindly Toward Soldiers.
In speaking of the affair, the super
intendent said he felt sure Capt. Whit
ney would not have made such criti-
cisIns of the officers had he been fully
acquainted with both sides OF the case
I'VE are as lenient with the men
from Fort Screven as we possibly car
be- said the superintendent "and
they are allowed as much latitude as
any citizen OF Savannah. At times
some Of the enlisted men are unusually
unruly and threaten the patrolmen
with the statement that IL they dare
put their hands on one of Uncle Sans
men they viii be made 70 suffer fol-
IT..
"Of course this has no effect, as Col.
Anderson has always been most Just
IN such cases. and there has never
been any friction between US. II hi
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