Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-13
SOLDIERS INVOLVED
IN ROW GET OFF
Held Not to Have Been Respon-
sible for Trouble at Fourth
and French Streets,
Charrinr that a srecial luminosity against

Charging that special animosity against
men in the uniform was held by Whining
ton police. and that unless such alleged
prejudice was removed that serious
trouble was sure 10 result, Attorney
Robert G. Harman. made a successful
plea to have three soldier clients dis
missed in City Court this morning, two
of them on charges of discorderly conduct
and the other on the charge of asSaulung
a policeman.
Two cases in which the soldiers figured
as defendants on witnesses involved four
civilian youths allof them well known about
Front street environs. One OF them,
Bernard Popcck, was charged with as
saulting Walter Mcmahon, n soldier. He
was fined $50 and costs Mcmahon and
William Sharp were charged with dis
orderly conduct and Arthur y. Keller
was accused of assaulting Policeman
Robert J. Wallace The three last named
are soldiers
The cases were the outGowth Of n
free-for-all-hght on the night of December
10 at Fourth and French streets IN whrch
crowd OF civilian youths and some
fifteen soldiers took part.
The three SOLDIERS who appeared
In court all bore cuts, bruises or black
ewes and Policeman Wallace displayed
a broken thumb.
In summoning up, Attorney Harnan
said:
IL regret to say that it is becoming
more apparent every day that strong
feeling against soldiers exists among
the policemen OF Wilmington. There
against men in the uniform of the United
he he ssf1f.
it is put aside. serious trouble is sure TO
result. Soldiers are fully aware.
that this feeling against them exists
and declare they feel tncy can scarcely
walk along the streets of Wilmington
without being in danger of attacks by
civilians backed In q measure By the
police.
'You see thst every one OF THESE
soldier defendants bears cut or "a brJnse
wnile the civilians appear ulscarred.
These marks speak for themselves.
PROSECUTOR DEFENDS POLICE.
Assistant City Prosecutor Malloy
promptly took exception to MIR. Harmzn's 5
charges
Il cannot let that accusation 20 un-
challenged" he declared. There IS
absolutely no anirnosity held by the
many of them have brothers IN the serv-
ice.
'<On the contrary, the policemen have
always shown 8 disposition to aid men
IN uniform IN every way possible II IS
only when protection Of Wilmington
citizens from the assaults Of drunken
soldiers Is demanded that the police
show necessary severity. Soldiers have
invaria bly, been remanded TO the care
OF their commanding officer, and the
police understands they are holding
the service men for that disposition.
According TO Arthur Keller. he aud
II llliam Sharp another private from
Pigeon Point, were preparing 10 board
4 car from the barracks when they NeTe
set upon by four white youths. Keller
accused Policeman Wallace OF striking
him repeatedly while he was down and
with calling him vile names. He also
declared be had been stabbed III the
back, and that the policeman refused
TO arrest any OF the civilians.
Walter McAiabon, another soldier,
testified that he had been cut In the fight
which occurred when he went to Keller :
aid. He said he WIS struck by Popeck
while ID the hands of two policemen
but that they refused TO arrest Popeck-
Policeman Wallace testified that Keller
had kicked him on the hand, breaking
his thumb, and in the mouth also.
Judge Churchman declared chat Lc
was concerned only with the evidence
in the cases and ruled that the charge
against Keller for assault OF Policeman
Wallace was not supported.
He rebuked the policeman for making
the arrests on the word Of the civilians
alone when he had not seen the whole
afray lie discharged all three Of the
soldiers
Whether or not this alleged feeling
ton It police edo do not % know. he he said, but
to that effect made in any court in this
;IiriS1i ic.4 ion -