The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-17
NAVY DEPARTMENT
ASKS PROTECTION
Appeals to Governor Stuart in
Behalf of Enlisted Men
Houndcd by Police.
LIEUTENANT PARSONS HERE
Says Policemen Jail Innocent
Sailors in Hope of Reward
Offered for Deserters.
LIEUTENANT PARSONS HERE

| The United States Navy. in the per-
J decks cleared for action. has set sail
| after the Richmond Police Department.
| Lieutenant Parsons called at the Office
| of Governor Stuart yesterday after
noon and submitted a protest, COM
! planning against the alleged indis-
| criminate arrest and detention or en-
! listed men, who have been on many
occasions taken up OH suspicion by the
! police OF being dcScrterS from the
! navy.
Lieutenant Parsons was unable to
| get an audience with the Governor yes
! terday, but will return to the Capitol
| to-day TO state his case and ask the
! executive TO take some action that will
| protect United States enlisted scamen
| and marines from molestation by the
police of the Virginia cities while they
are on shore leave.
The naval officer, outlining his petit
| ton in conversation with the Gov
ernor's private secretary, attributed the
| activities OF the police OF Richmond
! and other cities of the State TO the
| eaEerness OF the bluecoats to secure
| the reward of $50, which is paid by
| the government for the arrest OF ac-
tual deserters Hc said that persistent
| abuse OF authority by the police OF
| tHe country nau already resulted in
steps being taken by the Navy Depart
ment to restrict payment OF the re-
, ward TO such cases as permit of no
\ question of The actual intent to desert
the service.
FEW ACTUAL Gases
! OF REAL DISCRETION
while arrests on the charge OF de-
sertion are very common" Lieutenant
Parsons said, and seamcn of the navy
are being picked up OH the charge in
cities OF the United States every day.
the fact is that there are only about
fifteen cases OF actual desertion from
our ships to-day of which the depart i.
ment has coGnizance. Yet these en-
listed men are being arrested, thrown
INTO station houses and jails and sub :
jected TO all sorts OF discomforts and
inconveniences for an Indefinite time.
while the policeman who has made the
arrest is having the prisoners record
investigated. in order to see whether
he has caught 4 $50 ish or has mad e
water haul.
1t is my purpose to make n recon
mendation 10 the Navy Department
that the 500 price put on the head OF
the deserter be withdrawn Recruiting
annoyed by the activities OF over
Jealous. not to say avaricious, police
officers. The men are arrested on sus-
piclon. and when the arresting oniosr
learns that the prisoner is Or has been
in the navy. the sailor is h Id as a
deserter merely because he has no
papers In his pocket with which Ia
identify himself. This Is putting the
burden of proof on the accused.
when the prisoner protests against
the treatment, and appeals to the re-
cruiting station officer in the town
he happens TO be visiting. the recruit
inS officer is put TO the trouble of in
vesttGating the case md obtaining
from tho department a clean bill for
the prisoner. The goat OF the farcical
affair is the poor salorman who has
no redress.
SAILORS HELD IN JAIL
PENDING INNESTIG ALTON
Two Of our sailors are in iail this
week pending Investigation of their
eases. one sailor taken up on sus-
picion was released Yesterday. Cases
OF this character in Richmond finally
became so numerous that decided to
appeal 10 the Governor. ] wish to have
his advice before proceeding further
for the relief Of innocent enlisted men
on shore leave who seem to be re-
Sarded by city and county police as
their legitimate quarry. Houndinc OF
enlisted men ashore by the police tends
: To discourage cnlistments in the navy
and 1t is in conflict with tho policy OF
the United States government To dis
courage citizens who desire TO Join the
navy or army"