Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05
ALLEGED FOE Of US.
MADE TO K|SS'FLAG
Two Arrests in City Last Night
for Alleged DisIoyaI
Utterances.
ONE MAN CHokED BY CROWD

One man was forced to kiss the
American flag after he had been near
ly checked unconscious by a mob of
streets las: night because of alleged
unpatriotic remarks made by him at
liberty loan rally, while another re-
ceived rough treatment at the hands
of crowd at 10th street and Penn
sylvania avenue after he also was said
to have made similar remarks. Both
men finally were arrested and taken to
the first precinct police station.
A man who said he was Philip Thomas
Cleckley, jeweler. f1fty-one years old.
who gave his address as 459 Massachu
sets avenue, was forced to kiss the
flag at 9Th and E streets. He was in
the large crowd while speakers were
bonds. Cleckley made remark which
was believed by citizen to be uncom-
plimentary to the liberty loan. The
citizen grabbed hold Of the jeweler and
crowd were attracted and hearing that
Cleckley had made an alleged uncom-
plimentary remark Immediately sur
rounded him and blows were landed
upon his head and body.
Alleges Threat Of Lynching.
Cleckley. according to his own state
ment. was forced against tree box and
threats of lynching him were made. He
was choked and kicked by some of the
people. he said, and, finally, he was
forced over to the wagon stand, on
which the speakers were, and was
forced to kiss the flag.
Policeman w. F. Miller appeared on
the scene and rescued the jeweler from
the crowd. He was taken to the police
station. There Cleckley said that he
had not made any remark against the
liberty loan. but declared that he was
talking to a friend and that the man
who first grabbed him had misconstrued
his meaning.
Il am an American citizen and was
born in Alabama" he said. MY people
came from Holland and 1 love this
me over to kiss the American flag.
as l would do it any time willingly"
Deposits $25 Collateral.
was found in the jewelers. pocket. He
gave SIS collateral for his appearance
at Police Court tomorrow morning. to
answer a charge Of having been dis
orderly at liberty loan rally.
How many bonds have you bought? %
asked Policeman c. E. Mansfield
Il did not buy any," he said II have
just put 1t off from time to time"
You ought to show that you are an
American citizen. as you claim, and buy
q bond" said the officer.
Cleckley said he would do 80. Accom-
panied by the officer and newspaper
men the jeweler went to the liberty
loan rally at 10th street and Pennsyi-
vanta avenue and gave $50 cash for q
bond.
William Clair Accused.
William Clair. thirty mine years old,
who said he Is carpenter and residing
at Accotink, Va, was the other man al
legged to have made Objectionable re-
marks.
Clair was at the loan rally at 10th street
and Pennsylvania avenue when a speaker
was telling of q Canadian soldier who
has been in the city and who was blinded
in battle Clair is said to have made an
unpatriotic comment.
George E. Lorey Of 225 Morgan street
was one Of those present who claim to
have heard the remark of Clair. The Vir-
gilman was Immediately surrounded by
q crowd and was given q pummeling be-
fore he was finally taken to the station
house. AS he did not have the necessary
SIS collateral for his release he was
locked up