Evening star., 1923-05-04
Court Reprimands Seagrove
for His References to
"Guy in Civies."
COURTROOM CROWDED
AT OFFICERS HEARING
Private Testifes He Didn't Tell
Judge Because of Feeling
Against Soldiers.
From a statr Correspondent.

ioi" stau correspondent.
FREDERICKSBURG Va. May A.
The United States Marine Corps fight
to win for It's members equal rights
with citizens was formally opened
In the quaint little courthouse here
today. when Deputy Sergt. Reuben
h McGee was placed on trial on tu.o
charges Of having assaulted Private
I. .. seagroves. from the Quantico
marine base. after having arrested
him for drunkenness
Array OF Legal Talent,
In many years this placid Virginia
town has not been so thrilled as by
the paradox OF a two-fsted marine
mailing policeman into a court OF
justice to answer charges that uni
formed men In the armed service Of
Uncle Sam have heretofore been in
the habit Of settling in their own in
dividual way.
Had the stage been set for the trial
OF some mighty corporation the prem
aration could hardly have been more
pretentious Three noted lawyers sat
.eaay TO assist the marine in his legal
patt!e with the policeman
Two more learned members oc
ire virginia bar took upon them
selves the duty of defending McGee.
Courtroom Crowded.
The courtroom was SO crowded
even casual observer could not helm
rendering over who was taking care
OF rrederlcksburg's business while
Judge 7. Goolrick was holding court
10 determine whether or not the no.
lceman's alleged brutality toward a
usaenseiess marine should cost that
off1cer his job.
Two indictm-.'ts were drawn
against McGee wnen the trial opened
shortly before noon
IN the first Private Seagroves was
named rs the complainant; in the sec
ona four prominent business men,
eager 20 defend their town against in
slnuations that II had been unfair in
its treatment of man wearing the
american uniform, were the complain
ants. '-'
Marines Bring Attorney.
The Quantico marines in general
and Private Seagroves in particular
were represented by r. E. Byrd, q
noted Richmond lawyer. willtam X.
Goolrlck was present to handle the
business mems legal rights f. M
SRicnester. the commonwealth attor-
ney, was on hand to care for the in
teTests OF Fredericksburg in general
Butzner and F. W. Coleman.
AT the outset OF the trial Judge
Goolrick announced that he would
hear all of the charges simultaneous
~. He also fatty declared that his
hearing of any old feuds between the
police department and the marines
from Quantico. The trial, he said,
was predicated solely on the question
OF whether or not Policeman McGee
na0 n DIT,
groves without justification.
Court Aroused by Remarks.
Seagroyes himself first took the wit
ness stand He had not talked lonc
however. before the court felt that he
had outraged its judicial atmosphere
by referring TO McGee 40 guy in
civies" and to a policeman Jenkins
as cop in uniform After the ma
rine had used these adjectives several
times Judge Goolrick found himself
obliged to demand that the witness
speak more respectfully OF police
man.
Seagroves testified that he had been
arrested by McGee and Jennings on
charge of drunkenness and disorder
ly conduct. En- route to the station
house, he testified that the former.
without provocation, struck him and
knocked him through store win
dow.
knOcked Into Cell. He Says.
Arriving at the town lock up" he
swore that instead of being placed in
cell he was stood before the door
and smashed on the right jaw as a.
| means of helping him through that
aperture.
Seagroves had the visitors TO the
court in an uproar and the officers
Of that tribunal indignant by his
! Marine Corps slang. Under cross
examination he was asked why he
/ had not reported the assault to the
! police court Judge who tried him the
next morning on the drunkenness
| charge.
His reply was characteristic. but
revived the very thing the Quantico
! marines from Brig. Gen. Smedley But
/ ler down are trying TO overcome.
| 1T was no use. he said. II know
| that am a small spud when 1t comes
! TO fighting a civilian In court. a ma
| rine can't get a square deal"
| Soon after cross examination OF
| Seagroves had ended the court ad
! journed for lunch. 1t will reconvene
! and complete the trial this afternoon.
Tonight officer Jennings is to be tried
| on similar charge.