The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-08
MILITARY SIDE OF
SHOOTING AFFAIR.
Major Price Issues State
ment of His Po-
sition.
MO ATTEMPT MADE
TOCONDONE CRIME
Point With Protesting Officers
Was Jurisdiction - Says Po-
liceman Was Discourteous.
Trial of Self Confessed Of
tenders Is Postponed
Until Tomorrow.

For the purpose OF stating the facts
as ascertained by him In relation to the
discharge of weapons by privates OF
his battalion while returning from the
sham battle on Monday afternoon and
of giving to the public the military
viewpoint OF the affair and the result
ing disagreement between his officers
and the police. Major j. I. Price last
night Issued a statement. He gives In
detail the circumstances OF the shoot
ing. relating how 1T happened that no
commissioned officer was with the Of
tending company.
Major Price reiterates his defense OF
the action OF Captain Stack and Lieu
tenant Underwater, explaining that un-
der the circumstances he would have
acted as they did. He says that as a
matter Of course. no fair-minded per-
son would believe that he or his officers
Intended to condone tho offense; 1t was
simply a question OF Jurisdiction.
Continuing. the battalion commander
maintains his position that the best
ers is within the bounds of military
discipline. 1t Is for this that he has
contended.
Says Police Were Dlscourteous.
Apparently the whole dispute arose
over the attitude of the police officers.
Major Price asserts that a request tc
give up the alleged offender would
nave been compiled with. but that a
demand, made in what he says was a
manner utterly lacking in the courtesy
which should obtain between officials
of different organizations" was natu-
rally resented. Therefore, tho officers,
believing that soldier on military
DUTY could be arrested By civil officers
only for felony. took the position that
Private Meredith should not be deliv-
cred TO the police.
Major Price has also prepared re-
| ply to the letter of AdjutaLt-General
| w. w. Sale, directing that he be given
a complete report of the occurrence.
General Sale in his comIcanication
stated that ne nsd learned from The
Times-Dispatch that members OF Com
pany f. First Regiment. had been
guilty Of mot only .:olaung a city
ordinance, but also creating excite
the Uniform which they wore and re-
tlecttns discrcdit upol the State NIL
| litia."
Promises Punishment.
Replying, Major Price narrates the
circumstances OF the affair in detail,
giving his assurance tbs. the men
would be properly and promptly pun
ished for their disobedience aud breach
OF peace 1t is his intention to have
| them tried by court-murtial for both
| these offenses.
Inc three privates who on Tuesday
hisht at the Seventh Street armory
ADMITTED their guilt of the oltense,
/ with Private Harry Meredith. who da.
nies that he is guilty. appeared IN Do.
| ice Court yesterday morning The
case was continued to September o ,ha
men being released upon their own
recoSnizance for their appearance IN
that day. ot'
Major Prices statement follows.
Regrets Occurrence.
1eel that In Justice to the officers
ana myself of the First Battallon of
the First Regiment. should make the
following statement:
| NO one can regret any more than
we the unfortunate occurrence OF Mon
| day afternoon, when some Of the nar-
bers Of the battalion fired their ~.
| fes promtscuously on their return via
street car from the Fair Grounds. we
recognize the committing OF an osfense
| OF thls character a breach of the
! peace. The conversation and remarks
that took place at the armory between
Captain Stack. Lieutenant ISindervater
and police officers, under the circum-
stances. was perfectly calm.
1T is customary and understood by
| all military officers that a certain
amount Of courtesy is extended be-
| tweoo officers of one organization and
another, which was absolutely ignored
by one Of the police officers BY his
demanding the delivery of soldier to
him. Should he have worded his re-
marks in the form of a request, 1t
would have been Immediately compiled
With.
'The officers at the time. in spite OF
the circumstances, felt that they were
acting properly. having been previ-
ously Informed that a soldier was ex-
] empt from civil arrest except on the
charge Of felony. knowing that the
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