New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-02-25
HARVARD RIOT IS
again DESCRIBED
Defense Brings in Witnesses to
Deny There Was Trouble

Trial of 80 Harvard students on
charges resulting from their clash
with the Cambridge police in Har-
ward Square fortnight ago was re-
sumed in the district court today.
The court room was thronged with
students, witnesses and spectators as
the police continued the presenta-
ton OF their evidence. At the pre-
vious hearing last week the govern
ment had called is officers, Today
the story was continued by civilian
witnesses.
Civilian Witness.
The first of these was Manager
Summer of the University theater
where the students had attended a
midnight show and smoker just be-
fore their battle with the police. The
defense objected to examination of
sumner, who had been called in an
attempt to show that the riot was a
continuation of disturbance which
began during the show.
Objection was based on the
ground that none of the defendants
was charged with making a dis
turbance in the theater, and that
many of them could not be identi-
fed as having been in the theater.
1T has appeared to me that you
might be attempting to show that
the police themselves started the
riot" remarked Judge Stone to de-
Tense counsel
Defense Blames Police.
II should think, indeed, that had
been apparent" replied Judge Fred
erick Fl. Chase of the defense.
The question OF the examination
Of the theater manager was left I'M
decided while the government intro
duced five other witnesses, all of
whom gave such favorable testl-
u,ony for the defense that they were
not submitted to ss-eXaminauon.
saw No Trouble.
Randall E. Stratton, a student at
the Harvard business school and an
usher at the theater. said he had OBJ
served the crowd in the square, but
had seen no missiles thrown. Anoth-
er usher, Charles H. Haffey, testified
that the crowd was orderly. ]. Walsh
and Louis ]. Martin. both managers
of Harvard Square lunch rooms, SAID
they saw crowds outside but did not
notice any disturbance. Martin ans
wered NO" when asked ii he had
not seen anything unusual
Didn't you see the patrol
wagon?" Inquired Judge Stone, TAX
ing a hand in the examination.
YES saw two in the square,"
DO you think two patrol wagons
are normal"
mo sir, but I didn't think 1t I'M
usual" Martin responded,
Similar testimony was given by
John H. Hartshorn, clerk at Har-
ward Square store.
All show Up.
As usual when court opened the
roll of defendants was called and
with one exception all 80 responded.
The clerk then announced that if the
missing defendant did not appear ne
would be defauIted and capias Is
sued. Two hours later. however, the
DELINQUENT one arrived. Except for
few patches of court plaster, the
students today showed no signs OF
their encounter with the police. The
bandages which several of them had
worn on their first court appearance
had been removed.
Policeman Testifies
Patrick f. Shea. police officer
testified hat he was struck by a
niece of ice on coming out of the
theater where he was on duty.
Lemons and eggs were also thrown
he said. He said he stopped fight
ing between two men in the crowd
and later arrested Edward j. Cum
bingham, student, after the latter
had failed to obey an order TO re-
main in! the college yard.
Richard Carr, a taXicab driver,
said he saw an officer pretty well
excited with his gun drawn He
also said the officer was bombarded
with eggs as he was putting in
call for more police from patrol
box. John Bunyana, another wit
ness, said it seemed to him That the
police were taking everything IN
sight"
Eugene F. Brown, a bus operator.
testified that someone in the crowd
shouted Lets get this guy, mlstak-
ing him for a policeman on account
of mis- uniform. but did not modest
him on discovering that he was not
an officer. There were also shouts
Of Lets tip the wagon over ne
said, when the patrol arrived and
drove through the crowd, but no at
tempt was made to carry out the
threat.
The government rested after Judge
Stone had denied motion by CITY
Solicitor Michigan that the Defend
ants be lined up in the court room
so that the witnesses might idenu-
fy them. Defense counsel objected,
contending that the government al
ready had had opportunity to idenu'
fy the defendants. In presenting IT'S
case the government had called "a
witnesses, 16 of whom were men,
bers of the police department.