The Washington times., 1926-10-11
PREACHER HELD.
IN Staying
CONTINUED from First PageD

IIOIiI lISl Il
along the roads in the vicinity of
the cemetery.
The residents of the neighborhood
believe, that responsibility for illicit
love-making, bootlegging, hi-jacking
and highway robbery, which have
been going on in the shadow OF
Arlington Cemetery walls. can be
laid directly at. the door of the
Government.
These conditions, they assert.
were probably directly to blame fcr
the shooting Of Johnson and the
killing of Private Miller.
Betty had been held previously
for questioning in connection with
the double shooting. Yesterday he
accompanied Johnson'ss parents to-
the scene and was arrested by
Capt. Albert Bowen, of Fort Myer.
after he had told Robert Dye,
superintendent of Arlington Gene
terry, that he was Miss Gray's
husband. Johnson confirmed this
statement last night from his cot
in Emergency Hospital.
At GOspal Mission
The street preacher. who has been
connected with Gospel Mission at
PA John Marshall Place n. W.
told the army authorities that he
had visited the scene Of the shoot
ing several times since Wednesday.
He declared. however. that he only
wanted to help solve the mystery
in the interest of friends.
Unoccupied grounds in the Vicin-
ity Of Fort Myer and Arlington
Cemetery are under the jurisdiction
Of the United States marshal for
the eastern district Of Virginia.
said Sheriff Howard c. Fields. Of
Arlington county, today, and he is
without power to keep this nest
of crime and wrong.doing" clean.
Hundreds Of complaints are re
ceiVed from that section every
month. the sheriff continued.
These have had to do with Illicit
amours carried on within full sight
Of passing automobilists; with gangs
Of men, both civilians and soldiers
who prey upon the spoOning
couples and levy tribute from them:
with liquor runners, who have made
an open market of the roads along
the cemetery; with automobile
thieves, who take stolen cars to
the spot and there strip them of
all appliances and accessories OF
value.
Either the Fort Myer' people or
the United States marshaIs office
could clean up this situation in a
day" declared Fields. I'VE have
absolutely no jurisdiction over the
Government grounds. and if We
were to make arrests there we
could not obtain convictions in
court Several times this office has
arrested bO0tlegSers in the vicinity,
all Of whom have been taken into
custody loaded down with evidence,
but in each instance the bOotlegger
was dismissed by the court when il
was learned that the arrest was
made on Government property. The
same thing took place in at least
one assault and battery case
Sheriff Fields and other Officials
have taken this matter up with civic
celebrations and other organizations
in efforts to have the district prop,
erlN patroiled.
Two men on motorcycles. pa
trolling the south and west walls
of the cemetery at night, could run
clarcd. "Thcy wouldn't have toI
make many arrests: merely their
presence there would make these
people understand mat crooks. hood
huns. and women must not gather
in Arlington county. This has beer
tried before. when the Fort MNcr
people had military police patrol.
ling the roads. and that time 4
proved SurcCG@fii."
Other officials. including Airing
ton Cemetery superintendent Rob
cI't Dye, were of the sam" opinion.
While many Of the soldiers sta
toned At The post declared they
would also be glad to have some
protection Whcu coming in lat" a {;
night The soldiers recOunted n |
dozen or more cases in the last sis |
months in which companions have |
been assaulted while passing the |
south wall Of the cemetery.
In each case the soldier was at |
tackled from behind. given II rap
over the head with some heiVv |
object. and left unconscious on the
ground. The police records al-c
show several cases Of criminal aS
>"ult upon women and at least "no
hOniridc 10 have taken place in IN"
Vicinit. during the last few yeas