The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-07
Justice Crutchfleld Unwilling
to Turn Men Over to Mil
itary for Trial
DECLARES HE WANTS
TO LOOK INTO LAW.
Not Certain City Has Right to-
Quash Prosecutions and So
Continues Hearing to
September 0.
Despite the reported agreement ~

Despite the reported agreement be-
tween Cn5s- II fottce Werner and
Major J.. z. Trfce, OF the FIRST regis
ment, Virginia volunteers. TO leave the
punishment Ct the men alleged TO
nave discharged their rifles from =
Bfoaa street car while returning from
the state fair grounds Monday ege1-
ing. 10 the military authorities, 1t -
ny no means certain that Justice John
Crutchffe2s before whom those ac-
cused mus appear will consent TO
let the matter pass out of his hands
in any such fashion
Following the confession of Privates
Frank Scruggs, George Campbell and
Elmer Lenhalt, all or company f.
IN which they admitted having fred
their weapons. these three and Prf-
Vate Harry Meredith, OF the same
company, against whom a summons
mad been issued, appeared in police
court Wednesday morning accom-
panied by Major Price. There was 3
brief low voiced conversation between
Major Price and Justice Crutchfield. Ii
which the former explained that hA3
intended to push the matter and see
that the men, If guilty. were court
martialed and punished as they de-;
served.
II u Serious Thing.
y tsAst1 JpHil ilzIsneu a nOnSHIe
Then he stroked his chin and spoke.
not in a low tone. either
This is pretty serious thinus
this firing of guns on the street. :
said he. "A court-martial may give
the proper punishment, but I don't
know that. Besides, I'm not sure
that have any right to let matter
like this pass ont of my hands Al
city ordinance has been violated, and.
IL may be necessary for the city IT
self TO give trial and infiict punish-
ment, IL necessary. / want to look
into the law on this subject | COM
tinue the case until Friday. Septem-s
Der g."
Later Justice John declared that
| he had no idea what course he would
take. Don't make any pTedictioux
either" he warned II may turn
them over TO the military authorities.
and then, again. ! may fine them the
limit
The maximum fine which may b.
imposed is $500
The course pursued by Justice John
evidently came as surprise to the
soldiers and particularly to Major
Price, who was evidently under thu
impression that the matter would be
made closed incident so far as civic
prosecution was concerned In hfa
conference with Chief of Police Wer-
ner Tuesday he agreed to do all II
his power to find out Just how many
and what men had fred shots, and
TO bring these men before Justfcs
John in the morning. Then 1t WAS
tacitiy agreed that the Recommending 3
ton would be made that the case b
dropped SO far as the city was con.
cerned Major Price agreed TO push
prosecution before the military au-
thorities.
Chief OF Police Werner was II
court Wednesday morning to URGE
that the cases be dropped. He rot
no chance. however. even to make the
suggestion 10 Justice John The en-
tire hearing consumed less than two.
minutes. The men who were brouehts
into court under an ordinance we're
released on their personal recoxnts-s
ance to appear on Friday. Then they
left the court room and the regular
routine of petty cases was continued
Admit Their Guilt.
The hearing conducted by Major
Price Tuesday night was rather an
Informal affair The major read y
communication from Mayor Richard~
son enclosing letter received by the
latter from Chief Werner These let-
tiers complained of the shooting and
of the refusal OF the officers to per-
NIT any arrests, and asked that somA
action he taken to bring the guilty
parties to justice.
Captain j. r. Stone of Company HI
then laid the motter before the men az
his company asking that all those whos
had discharged their rifles confess. In
making this plea he appealed to tho
men on their honor as soldiers. Prf-s
Yates Scruggs, Campbell and Lenhar&s
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