The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-09
SOLDIERS FINED
BY JUSTICE JOHN
Latter Declares Civil Law is
Supreme in Time of
Peace
MEN STILL CONFRONTED
BY COURT MARTIAL
Major Price Says Military Au-
thorities viii Push Additions
al Prosecution Capt.
Stack Arrested.


dict OF Justice Crutchiield iInpos-
ing fine of $40 each ON Priyates
Harry Meredith, George Camp
bell. Frank Scruggs and Eimoro
Lenhart, for discharging their
rifles from Broad street car
Monday evening, Detective Ser
geant j. 4. Wiley swore out q
warrant for the arrest of Captain
William A. Stack, of Company b,
First Virginia Regiment, Virginia
Volunteers, charging him with
interfering with an officer In the
performance OF duty. Captain
Stack viii be given hearing In
police court Saturday morning.
II want all you soldiers TO
know that In times of peace civil
law Is supreme"
This was the concluding sentences
Of a lengthy statement delivered by
Justice Crutchield Thursday morn
ing preliminary to disposing OF the
case against four members of Come
pany F., First Regiment, Virginia vol-
untoers Each Of the offenders wan
fined $40. In addition to this, they
must still stand military court mar
tial, Major Price declaring that the
infliction OF punishment by the civil
authorities having In no wise altered
his determination to prosecute the
men before Il military trial board.
The decision OF Justice John was
rendered after he had heard only
/ few OF the many witnesses summoned.
| The testimony OF Detective Sergeant
| Wiley was summarily stopped that
| Private Harry Meredith, who protest.
ed his innocence before Major Price,
might make a statement. Meredith
at first denied that he had discharged
his rife. Then Justice John remen1-
bered that he had not been put under
oath Meredith was made to kiss the
book. after which he was asked again
IL ne had discharged firearms from
the street car.
Meredith Admits Guilt.
Meredith hesitated a moment. Yes
did. but not where the officers said
! ! did," he finally declared.
That's enough from YOU" said
Justice John. He turned to Priyates
George Campbell, Frank Scruggs and
Elmore Lenhart the other three pris-s
! oners. Il understand you men plead
guilty. Is that right2'' he asked. Bee
! ing answered IN the affirmative, Jus-
tice John slammed his gavel down
| hard on his desk.
Il have tho assurance of Major
Price that all of you men VIII he
! a II t~~.s
excuse your offense against the city,
he began. The eonrt-martiai may
punish you. but that won't do. 1t isn't
enough.
Before going any further I want
TO say that j think the civil officers
made a mistake in not effecting the
arrests as soon Is possible after the
offenses We're committed. They had
a perfect right to make the arrests, no
matter what the officers may think.
| In times of peace the military Is al
| ways subordinate TO and governed
by the civil law. The constitution
| says so.
Il tell YOU soldiers that under the
constitution you can be arrested by =
I policeman and taken out OF line, even
II you are marching up the stress
with a brass band, and the highes1
commanding officers present. You
can be arrested just as quickly for Z
misdemeanor. / want all of you soi-
diers to know that in times of peace
| civil law Is supreme. l fms you $40
EACH
In giving their testimony all OF thu
police officers who figured in the casa
namely. Messrs. Thurman. Duffey and
Wiley, declared that they had been
treated with uniform courtesy by All
ma Nft IF he mil en-
tain Stack. Lieutenant Kinderyater.s
MIR. Thurman said. begged him nos
to push the case, and when he re-
piled that 10 drop proceedings mights
result IN his being fined By the B0Arxa
of Police Commissioners. offered toa
pay the fine out OF his own pockafs
At this point, it was testified, Cape
/ tain Stack spoke UP and declared that
liz Mr.. Thurman should be fined he
Captain Stack. would see that Chfaf
of Police Werner was fined also for
neglect of duty.
shots Were fired almost tifrecfrv
over Major Werner's head. ana NJ
didn't pay any attention to them ssS
Captain Stack is alleged to have saj4
Later. after the Sergeant Wiley aiaxl
Policemen Thurman and Duffy has1
left the arrpory. It is alleged thai
Captain Stack folloewd them nn6 4
the case he would make 1t hot fo&
them" Herepeated this threat twice
Sergeant Wiley declares. accompanies
| ing his remarks with profanity. @
II was this course of action on tl<&A
part OF Captain Stack that resulted I'LL
the warrant being sworn out for h1
arrest Friday afternoon. s5
He interfered with us. at the nxxiIS
DRY, and later on the street" said m
! geant Wiley In discussing the alZ11
He tried TO stop " from doing
duty by threatening N with pref ~
! tions before the trial board tnf41 &
! TO prosecute him and have DeWS
| witnesses to back up my chareea
The warrant for Captain Sn<t
/ rest was issued BY Iusttce II
! Griggs Policemen Thurman 1zfd 81
~ ana Measrs. =. ]. Tilnbeeia ~
! Mamie GFsihbs ars suraia oiss 7
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