Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-04-01
MAY EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC.
CITIZENS STIRRED OVER AC-
TION AT ACADEMY.
Mr.. Burtis Barred Out Guard Ordered
To Refuse Market Master Admission
Retired Naval Officer Also Resents
The Guards Action.
CHILDREN ARE RESTRICTED.

The Annapolis public is strongly
stirred up over the theatened eNclu<
sion OF citizens from the Naval Acad-
cmy during athletic contests as well
as orders which have already been is
sued tending i'm that direction. The
state Of affairs Is understood TO be the
outcome of the alteration between
Watchman Daniel O'Lone and Mr.. Ed
ward 4. Burtis, marketmaster of
Annapolis. which occurred last We'd
nesday afternoon. Mr.. Burtis claims
that he was abused and that his
eleven year old son was assaulted by
the watchman and has laid the mat
ter before United States Commissioner
Julian Brewer.
The Naval Academy authorities have
presumably reached n conclusion in
the matter favorable To the action of
the watehman, for MIR. Burtis was de-
MED admission TO the Academy
grounds on Saturday. Mr.. Burtis was
present during the baseball game of
Thursday the day after the occurrence,
and nothing was said TO him, but
Saturday he was stopped at the main
gate OF the Academy by the marine
guard .and much mortified before n
number OF people. Mr.. Burtis says he
will take steps TO lay the matter be-
fore higher authority at once. United
States Commissioners Brewer has for
warded statement of facts, as related
by MIR. Burtis and witnesses, TO Dis
trict Attorney John G.. lose, of Balti-
more, and will await instructions as
to whether or not warrant shall be
issued for watchman O'Lone.
ON Saturday, il was stated by
those on duty that an order had been
issued forhidding the entrance of any
children under sixteen years of age
during game. This was enforced in
many instances and gave rise to much
dissatisfaction and at least one in
stance of very heated discussion.
Children were not allowed TO go in,
though accompanied by their parents
or other adults. In one case the guard
at the main gate would not allow a
retired naval officer living in Annapo-
lis to take his grandchild in the Acad-
envy. The officer expressed himself
most strongly upon the interference
with him. 1t was stated by an eye
witness that the guard was threatened
with a cane.
The order restricting ths children
under sixteen years is felt as n par
ticular hardship and the feeling was
freely expressed here today that most
grown persons would far rather be
excluded from the contests them
selves than have the boys of the town
kept out. It is not known just what
is behind the order for the exclusion
Of boys. There has been rule for a
number OF years that boys should not
be admitted unless accompanied by
grown persons, and il has been regu-
lar practice for many years for parents
to take in their children. There have
also been great many cases where
men who had not forgotten that they
were boys once themselves TO take in
lad and be responsible for his con
duct. 1t is not believed that there has
been any considerable trouble on &C
count of the admission of the boys.
1t is generally recognized here thai
the Academy authorities have perfect
right TO make any reasonable regu-
lation for the promotion of order and
the handling of the large crowd
which frequently is present at con
tests. There is no feeling on account
OF the fact that most ofss the best seats
are reserved for naval people OF
those connected with them, as it is
recognized that the Academy athletics
belong TO the naval people in 8
special sense, but there is great indig-
nation over the implication contained
i'm the admonition that the public
may be excluded, that the people OF
Annapolis are disorderly. AS a matter
of fact, il is felt that the people as 9
whole are very law-abiding and or
Derby.
There have been orly two cases Of
anything like disorder which became
publicly known in the last several
years and in both of these cases
Watchman O'Lone was concerned
During the Army-Navy baseball game
last season he had trouble with loca
newspaper man and was convicted
and fined small amount by the United
States District Court of Baltimore
| The same officer had trouble with Mr.
Burtis last Wednesday and the case il
now in the hands of the United State
/ civil authorities.