Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-04-08
THREE BUEACKTS
FINED BY JUSTICE
Result Or Trouble Between Sail.
ors And Civilians After Last
Nights Dance
TELLS LIMITS OF POWER

Though Justice william s. WEIGH
who this morning tried the cases
growing out Of serious fight among
sailors and civilians last night, start
ing outside the Bladen street arInors,
inflicted only moderate fines on three
lbIuejackets and acquitted All nf the
civilians brought before him. the hear
ing brought 10 light serious condi-
ton due to 4 lack of misunderstood
ing BY some 81 the naval provost men
of the scope or their authority JUS
tice WeIch took occasion ID, allude 70
this. and to point out the actual stale
of the law III the matter.
Fines OF five dollars and COSTS We're
imposed upon Gordon Whatley and
Roland De Sherley. and two dollars
and costs upon Thomas Watson. All
sailors. Lauren Claude. George W.
Marshall and James Golburn. civilians,
who were also put under arrest last
might, we're acquitted, no definite dis
order being alleged III the evidence
against them.
During the hearing It deyelopcl that
members bf the provost guard had iil~
sisted upon right TO take service
men from the city police officer. and
had actually released tile sailor who
seemed to have heen the center Of the
disturbances II was also testified to
that In one case. provost had threat
ened to take civilian 10 the ship
Justice WeIoh pointed out that the
Limitations of the power 0f the pro-
vests very clearly. and told them that
they would assist the civil officers and
not attempt TO interfere with civilians
except dit request OF civil authorities
or In self defense He also stated that
service men were amenable TO arrest
Iat the discretion Of the local police.
The general purport of The Lesti-
Ernusly ~ elnuie. Marshall anu CoI-
burn and Wash Craig was that they
had no part Id the trouble in the
arnOry during the dance held by Com-
pany MI, Of the State IMiard but that
d sailor had gotten on the running
hoard Of their automobile and struck
Claude with club or some other in
strunent they denied taking any
part in the fighting except to assist
Officer Curry Officer Curryfs testi-
mony did not bring out any specific
charge against the three accused ciyil-
ians, and they we're acquitted.
The sailors gave the Same general
testimony, and insisted that they had
no part iii the flghting They accused
officer Curry of undue roughness, but
In two cases admitted that they had
used profane and vulgar language to
him, but insisted that his attitude to-
ward them had justified Il. Several
verbal Tits occurred In the station
house. where the cases were tried. le-
tween the different sailors and officer
Curry. one sailor claimed that tie
policeman had accused him of bel g
drunk, whereas he had never toucA d
drop Of intoxicants in his life.
Upon the while testimony, howe
Justice Welch was satisfied tfl@t
lWhatley. De Eherley and Watson had
offered certain amount Of resistance
to the policeman and had interfered
with him ii the performance Of his
duty. He therefore found them guilty,
land imposed d fine upon them.
The trouble Legan az about half
past eleven last night and attracted
! large crowd while the accusedd were
being taken to the station house ny
officer Curry. Many residents Of the
section were much disturbed and the
aaffir Is greatly regretted, the serious
aspects Of the matter being recognized.
|It may be said however, that occur
enees Of the sort are very rare. the
general department Of the enlisted
/ men here having been highly credit
iable.