Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-22
LIEUTENANT WEST
FREED BY COURT
Police Fail to Make Out Case
Against Member of Camp
Lee Provost Guard.
WAS HERE ON OFFICIAL DUTY
Dramatic Scene in Court When
Military Men Threaten to
Leave Room.
WAS HERE ON OFFICIAL DUTY

After dramatic trial in Police Court
yesterday afternoon. which lasted more
than two hours. during which time tho
tension of interest was drawn taut
and a hcad-on collision between the
local authorities and the military seem :
ed imminent. Justice Crutchfcld dis
missed the case against Lieutenant w.
r. West. connected with the provost
guard at Camp Lee. arrested by the
local police on the charge OF being
person mot of good fame" and being
in house of i'll fame. at los East
Broad street. In his decision. Justice
Crutchfield exonerated Lieutenant West
or any offense. and said that he had
not ranscended mis- authority. since he
was merely acting upon the specific
orders OF his superior officer.
The ruling of Justice Crutchficld in
dismissinG Lieutenant West is as fol-
lows: 80 far as the section of this
statute is concerned. according to Can
tain l.. L. DeCamp, Lieutenant West
had right 10 be AT that house. and
also the right to go there. The other
side Of IT seems TO be that he cant.
over here to do specific work. and the
others with him were stool pigeons.
Whether he had right to be here or
not. that ] cannot pass on"
w. q. Wright, chauffeur for Lieu
tenant West, was released and rcquirea
to give $500 bond as security for his
good behavior for the next six months
BAD FEELING Is EVIDENT
AS TO RULING or COURT
Prominent people present at the trial
agreed that the decision settled n mat.
ter which for time took on 4 dis
agreeable appearance. However, il
must be admitted that the dismissal
and cNoneration of Lieutenant West
met with sharp criticism in some quar-
ters. Among the large crowd OF reo-
pie which jammed the courtroom were
number of state and city officials
Among the State officials the acquit-
tai OF the military officer was highly
applauded It was noticeable that some
OF the city officials and members of the
Police Department were disappointed
at the outcome OF the trial. Several
Of them were frankly critical OF the de-
cision. and bad feeling was apparent.
mmediately after court adjourned
upon the acquittal OF the officer of tho
provost guard, c. Il. Kelley, secretary
the decision Of Justice Cru;chneld with
evident satisfaction. He pronounced
the decision tine solution Of matter
which will tighten work for US" Rev
II. u. c. Maclachlan. ID. D.. nastor of tHc
Seventh Street Christian Church and
member of the civic conditions commit
tee OF the Ministerial Union, express
ed himself as highly gratihed over the
outcome of the trial
DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST PROVOST OFFICER
In official circles sharp criticism has
been registered in regard TO the at
titudc in insisting upon the trial OF
Lieutenant West. assistant provost
marshal of Camp Lee. who was ar
rested here By the local police while
in the performance OF his duty upon
specific orders by his superior officer"
while Harry Weaver, ]. J. Kelly and
u. German. arrested by policemen OF
the First District Wednesday night in
an alleged disorderly house. were
turned over to the military authorities
without hearing.
These three soldiers were arrested IN
an alleged d!:orderly house a. 1oS East
Marshall Street Wednesday night by
POEcemeN NJ + l-lIlll'hiil. - ~ w dAtIs'
j. +. Anthony and NJ. r. Brown. of the
First District They were turned over
TO the military authorities. and were
sent to camp yesterday morning, whore
charges already have been lodged
against them by officers OF the provost
guard.
When questioned in regard TO this
matter yesterday afternoon, Justice
Il w - n 49,.
know why this action was taken. The
reason / didn't try them is because
they were not recorded on the docket.
That is what l go by. 1t is a matter
to be answered by the officers of the
Police Department. I can't be troubled
by everything in the world. have
worry enough"
CHIEF Of POLICE SAYS
THEY WE'RE SENT TO COURT
Chief of Police Sherry last night made
the statement that he knew nothing at
all about the soldiers being sent TO
Camp Lee without trial. Il saw IL In
The Times-Dispatch tonight. but that
is all / know about it," said Major
Sherry. Il know that they were taken
from the station-house and put in the
pen at the Police Court. That is all
I know about il. and that is as far as
we have anything TO do with it,"
There were several dramatic scenes
in the courtroom. and the spectators
would not have been surprised at any
thing that took place. AT one time II
looked as II the military men would
withdraw in a body. However, Justice
Cru u:chfield withdrew q ruling which
had given offense. and the trial pro-
ceeded in an easier manner.
When the trial of Lieutenant West
and ". G.. Wright was called Assistant
District Attorney Hiram NJ Smith arose
and reiterated the position Of the mil
itary authorities: II wish to inform
Your Honor that I am here simply to
renew my previous statement, to tho
effect that Lieutenant West Was di-
rected to come here. and was on duty
at the time he was arrested by the
municipal officers. have Captain De-
Camp here to testify, and I ask you
that IL you believe Captain DeCamp
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