Evening journal., 1919-01-03
ARMY OFFICER
ENTERS DENIAL
Says He Didn't Say City
Was Rum Soaked and
Vice Ridden
SOLDIER GUARDS
WANTED BY POLICE

Summoned by the Board OF Police
Commissioners 10 explain his state
ments that the city was rum soaked
and Nice-ridden," Major Lucien b. Mil
lrr, c0mmandant at the French street
barracks Of the Twelfth Battalion L. :
Guards declared before the commits
sion last night that the statements were
partly correct but that the majority of
llIem were falsehOods The newspaper
reporter TO whom Major Wiler made
HE statement told the commissioners
That the interview was granted by
Major Wiler In the presence of two wit
uesses who heard him repeat the state
ments made by the army officer. These
witnesses were not called, however, IL
being agreed that Major Wiler should
send a letter 10 the Police Commission
ers denying officially the statements at
tributed TO him. This will be pub
lished. 10 was suggested that Major
Wiler issue the letter TO the newspa-
pers himself, but he refused TO do this.
The meeting at times waXed warm,
especially when an army officer with
Major Wiler declared vice conditions
here were very bad. He was asked by
chief Black TO state just what he meant.
commissioner William b. Megear, also
asked for information on the subject.
The officer stated that he personally
had witnessed occurrences which would
not be tolerated in other cities. Mr..
Negear stated that If the officer referred
10 rOoming house vice, he would like TO
know how 10 curb it as every city has
ile sans trouble.
Mayor Lawson. when asked by the
commissioners whether he thought this
city was bad morally or otherwise, re-
nlied That Wilmington is cleaner now
lIan 10 has bcru FOR thirty years, Major
Wilcr was asked by General 7. p. Wick
crsham, president Of the Police Com
mission. what his opinion was about
The conditions in this city and he -
Piled that they were no worse thth
those prevailing in other cities.
70 was stated at the meeting that
Major Wiler had informed the Police
commissioners some time agO that he
had suggested the use OF the soldiers
rs military police but that the depart
ment Of the East had refused TO allow
him 90 carry out his plans. After the
signing OF tho armistice The department,
however. agreed 10 the plan and on
Monday a Major Livingston called on
Mayor Lawson and stated that military
police were TO be used as an auxiliary
of the local force. Mayor Lawson then
called General Wickersham on the
phone and acquainted him with what
The army officer had told him. Mayor
lawson said ne had not asked for the
military police.
.Hu.N aalHlHH HHa.HnH
said that the commissioners had ap- {
proved the plan Of Major Wiler, which I
was 90 have the soldiers act as police /
and 10 take care Of enlisted men, only
and not to modest civilians. BY allow
ing the soldiers this courtesy hey the
commissioners, Thought they were DO
ing the soldiers favor.
The commissioners made 10 plain that /
Mey were peeyed over the statements /
lhal This city was rum soaked and /
-yicc ridden" Major Wiler said he had /
remarked on New Years Eve that rum /
lowed so freely that if the saloons /
were wiped or the face Of the earth .
90 would be a good thing Major Wiler /
qualified this remark by explaining that /
Doe meant such condition existed i'm only /
certain district OF the city. Major /
~ Her used the Term "IenuerlOln once {
when he was informed that Wilmington .
did not possess such a section.
Chief Black stated that this city was /
cleaner than any city Of it, size In the I
country The number Of arrests here /
last wear which showed a decrease over /
those Of the preceding year. he added, /
bore out this statement.
Members Of the Police Commission /
~aid last night that the duties Of the /
military police were clearly outlined |
90 them when the soldiers first went /
IN duty. as pertaining only to men in /
The uniform of the service, aud that /
lhey had nothing 10 do with civilians. /
Acc riding 20 members OF the board .
ihe entire trouble was caused by the |
ileged statement Of Major Wiler that (
the soldiers had been called into the 1
service by the local police department .
and Mayor Lawson, and were to help /
n the cleaning mp OF the bad conditions 4
u the city.
Tt Was this statement that is said TO !