Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-13
COURT-MART|A[T0 TO
TRY Jerry WARD
War Department Takes
Charge, Removing CoIored
Guards From 0rdway.
MEN GO BACK TO WORK

Orders were issued by the War De-
partment today for trial by court
tial of Private Jerry Ward, the colored
sentry who fatally shot Andrew James
Cooper, one of the carpenters employed
at Camp Ordway, when Cooper failed
to halt on command, while entering the
cantonment early yesterday.
Whether the soldier will be charged
with murder or a lesser offense has
been left to the discretion of Maj. Gen.
Hoyle, commanding the Eastern Depart
meut at New York. who is charged with
making the preliminary investigation
of the shooting and all the arrange
ments for the trial, according to regu-
lar military procedure.
The War Department has assumed
entire jurisdiction over the case. and,
it is declared, the soldier will not be
turned over to the civil authorities un-
less the developments of the military
trial should make that course advis-
able. Meanwhile Private Ward is be-
ing held at the engineer post at Wash
ington barracks.
Carpenters Return to Work Today.
All of the carpenters and other work.
men at Camp Ordway who quit yester-
day in protest against the shooting, re-
turned to work this morning.
Colored Guards Are Removed.
Secretary of War Baker acted prompt
ly on the appeal of organized labor to
remove the colored soldier guards from
the camp. AS early as o'clock last
evening the colored guardsmen started
leaving the cantonment, and two hours
later civilians were guarding the gov
ernment property. The guardsmen.
who are members of the 1st Separate
Battalion. have been returned to the
camp of the battalion in Potomac Park.
The order for withdrawal of the col
ored members of the 1st Separate Bat
TALON. D. c. n. G., from the canton
ment came as a direct result of con-
ference at the War Department be-
tween officials of the war branch of
the service and representatives of
Washington District Council. United
Brotherhood of Carpenters, that or
ganization being represented by r. H.
Burdette. president of the council; C.
II. Adams. business agent, and Thomas
Hickey, an organizer.
Last night the three members of the
committee attended a meeting Of the
brotherhood in the assembly hall at
lGtHple, 80 street,
and made report on the result Of the
conference.
A Strike Would Be Serious.
1t was stated that the conference
was very satisfactory one. War De-
partment officials realized just what
would result from strike of between
800 and 1000 carpenters. electricians.
lahorers and others. Their refusal,
they understood, would mean a serious
delay in the prosecution of the work
on the cantonment and might mean it
could not be finished in months.
Numerous details remain to be de
termined by the War Department in
connection with the shooting of Mr..
Cooper. which has cast gloom over the
labor organization.
One question for future consideration
is the demand for pay for yesterday
1t is argued that the killing of the
member of the brotherhood and one of
it's organizers was sufficient reason for
the withdrawal of the men.
At the meeting last night President
Burdette appointed committee to
make arrangements for the funeral of
Mr.. Cooper. and 1t was decided that
members of the brotherhood should re-
main off work the day of the funeral
as further mark of respect.
The question as to how the property