Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-02-07
Experience of Two Colored
Men at Hands of Sol
der With Gun
TAKE MEN ON HIKE
At Point of Pistol Soldier Makes Men
Walk For Miles in Country-Was
en- Furlough From Walter Reed

Alfred Morgan, nineteen years old
patient at ,hc Walter Reed Hos
pital, suffering from nervousness,
came over to Alexandria Saturday
and went out into Fairfax county
and armed with big automatic Ie-
volver took in custody two. harmless
colored men, giving the names Of
James Coleman and Spurgeon Camp
tell, of so U Street, northeast, Wash
ington, and marched them for sevc-
raj hours up anG down the rail",;ad
tracks telling them they were his
prisoners.
The unfortunate men shortly be-
fore 3 o'clock in the afternoon well
coined the arr:v:, of Policemen Mag
ner and Rawlctt who took the trio
in custody and brought them to head
quarters.
All three men late Saturday after
neon were turned over to Sheriff J.
+. Allison and Eis dtputy from Fair
fax county and taken to the Fairfax
county jail. It is thought that Nor
can, will be turned ever TO the hos
pitaI authorities and the two colored
men will be released, there being no
charge against them.
Morgan obtained five day fur
ough from the hospital and simply
came to Alexandria on sightseek-
me trip. He t.cpght he would explore
the surrounding country and accord
;nely proceeded toward Fairfax, fol-
lowing the rairoad tracks. About a
mile west of Alexandria he encoan-
tered the two men who came over
looking for wo;k. Their home is in
Philadelphia they explained.
AS soon as ne saw the two men,
both Of whom arc nineteen years CT
ere, he displayed his pistol, and told
them they were under arrest. The
nenacing manner Of his pistol spoke
louder than wo.ds. Marching both
men in front and giving military
commands to his prisoners. Morgan
was monarch ci all he surveyed for
the time being. He marched them for
at least three hours, going as far as
sincolnia, Fairfax. and return. The
men obeyed his commands unfllrch-
lingly as he kept his pistol in his
hand marching behind them.
Morgan's appetite began to get an
edge on and food was in his mind.
He spied a farmhouse and command
ad his prisoners to proceed. Inc
command was tbeyed. The woman
>yhom they met explained that she
would gladly give them something
to eat, but her children were i'll '"ith
! tie measles. The captain IF the aX-
cdiction, bowed ard commanded his
prisoners to Forward March They
next visited another farmhouse. Ac-
,ording to AIn.gan's own statement
oorrctorated oy his prisoners. they
did not meet alth a welcome sign
ct this house, for the woman pro-
duced a SHOTGUN and ordered them
away according to Morgan.
A short time aftcrward the police
we're notified by telephone Of the siS-
,,ieicus actions Of man wearing
soldier uniform who had in cust1uE
swo colorei men. -
Policemen Magner and Ra"le''
were dispatched in motorcycle to
7earh for tho zen. Soon they rar
! across the trio and Policeman Mag
ner was compelled to fire a shot over
.he head Of Moi gan to get them C
Halt. Morgan having his pistol II
his hand at t..,2 time. The co!ofe0
men were pleased when they rearHc'
police headquarters.
Their thirst was intense ana 'h's
drank glass after glass OF water
| They were placed in cells side by SIDE
ard Morgan in :, cell directly opposite
them. All three coverseed during .o'
evening. and Morgan in conversation
{ with representative of The Gaze.t'
explained that he thought posslnl!
the men might be deserters from th'
army Then aSa:r he said ne arrest
1 ed them because they were "heoos:
| He was reminded that he was withHou
authority 10 make arrests. He, how
! srcr, said he was uncertain aoou
this. Morgan entertained, the poi''