The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-13
MILITARY OFFICERS
PROBING FAIR EPISODE
Colonel Salomomsky Denies That
There was Anything Like .
WILL PUNrsH OFFENDERS.
Men Who Marched Through Gate
Without Paying Fec Arc Being
Sought-Women Not KIN DOL c d
Duwn-Senaafional Story Resented.

With tho three ofncers designated
by Colonel B. W. Salomonsky. COM
mander At Camp Stuart prosecuting
their investigation, the matter of the
alleged riots and disorderly conduct in
the state Fair grounds wednesday
night 10 awaiting their bindings ana
the conclusion Of the Police Court
hearing before action By the military
authorities will De taken. Colonel 10
Lane Stern, Major Allen Potts and
Major e. W. Bowles are conducting
tho investigation for Colonel salom-
onslty.
Colonel Salomonsky said last night
that there had been an unfortunate
mistake on the part Of some news
papers in referring to the difnculties
at the Fair wednesday night as . riot.
and the designation as rowdies ana
rough-necks Of the soldiers said to
have participated in the trouble. He
considered It all q reelection. not only
on the local military commands. but
on tho whole national defense Of the
United States. He said the pubhca-
ton and SPREADING broadcast Of such
unfair information ~ that published.
would put the troops encamped here
in bad repute.
Nothine Approaching = Riot.
According to Colonel Salomonsky.
there was never any semblance OF any
riot-like actions on tho part OF the
soldiers. He stated that about 100 OF
the men, formed In line, and entered
! the Hermitage gate Of the Fair
grounds without paying an entrance
fee. There was no disorder. no
providing: in fact. when the people
saw them enter they cleared the
space, since they believed q military
parade was In progress. Expressions
were heard from many that they were
glad of the opportunity OF seeing the
men. and that their presence added
materially to the Fair. Never wsre
any women forced to their knees. or
other similar occurrences.
After the soldiers were In the
grounds they dispsrsed. going in dif-
an officer employed BY the Fair A.
ISOLATION went to camp headquarters
and complained about tho men en-
tering the grounds without paying
their fee. saying that he feared dis
order would result, and asked that
an armed guard b sent In the
grounds. He did not complain about
any disorderly conduct ON the part Of
the men.
All the disorder registered was In
the cases Of the two troops. N. n.
! Lavendar, So South Church Street,
and e. 8. Pamplin. a member OF the
after the armed guards had been sent
into tho grounds. The mon were ar
rested by tho guards. 1t II said. and
then later taken into custody BY the
police ofncsrs. Under the State mill
tary law, soldiers are subject to trial
by the authorities nrst arresting him.
and under this prov1sion tho military
guards should not have given up the
men after they had taken them in
charge. In Police Court yesterday
morning. both Of the men were nned
fering with ofncsrs. 0svefal other SOL
diers with similar charges will Be
heard today In Police Court The men
were represented In court yesterday
BY Captain John A. Cutchins, OF the
Cavalry. ana Major Potts appeared
and told Judge CrutohAsld that
Sesrything would b done to set to the
bottom Of the affair TO punish the
guilty partiea
I'VE do not condons the action Of
the men In walking into the Fair
grounds" said Colonel ealomonsky,
and NJ expect to punish all Of them
who We ma were guflty OF any mis-
conduct They win b. tried before .
summary courf-fnArt1Al-
! TT WAS manifestly impossible for
us to 60 into the grounds wednesday
night ana remove every soldier who
may be attending the fair. Some of
Shem undoubtedly had gained admis-
sion without paying their fse. but
hnany of them had paid the necessary
ehargs and had . right to be there"
While It was said at nrst that the
soldiers made the arrest Of the dis
orderly soldiers, the police also claim
having done this. and II 70 the only
question to DO settled. In Police
Court yesterday both military ana civil
authorities stated that they had flryt
made the arrsuts
Il II was stated yesterday that Man
ager w. c. Saunders, Of the state Fair
Association, had said that he pre-
ferred tho conv1ots Of the State peni.
tentiary In their prison garb In thu
fair grounds rather than have q single
man from the military companies here
j When asked last night in reference
to the statement Mr.. Saunders said
that he had not made the statement Al
1t was attributed to him, but he had
nothing to say on the subject since
there had been q meeting Of the d.
; rectors Of the State Fair, and II wal
decided to leave the entire matter In
tho hands Of the civil authorities.
CHOLERA GERMS DnOPPrn