Evening star., 1932-04-01
Two Versions of the Riot
Commissioners Say Police Used Least Possible
Violence ce'-Reporters Declare Officers
Used Their Clubs Freely.

puC Sa" poIceman's fist against her
face and saw her fall to the ground.
During thus encounter other police
men and plain clothes men. numbering
ABOUT 10, started fighting the demon
stratorS. Male companions who at
tempted to assist Miss Hardy we're
struck by the policemen, some of whom
used their nightsticks, while others used
their fists.
During the height of the fighting
I saw marcher break away and start
to run across Massachusetts avenue.
The police of1cer in command ordered
a motor cycle policeman to get that
man" The motor cycle policeman
charged full speed after the man and
ran him down as he darted across the
curbing, striking him from behind with
the front wheel Of his motor cycle and
knocking him under a parked car. The
Smith of the Traffic Bureau, was
knocked off his motor cycle and re-
ceived skinned knee.
Later, I accompanied Brig Gen. Pei
ham D. GlaSsford to the third pre-
cinct station house, and on our way
there 1 heard him commend Pvt. Smith
for his good work
Il also saw one of the marchers struck
by policeman after he had taken
swing at an officer The man was
struck in the nose and blood was drawn.
Three policemen then jumped in to
seize him, among them Gen. Glassford.
Glassford grabbed hold of the marcher's
right arm and twisted it behind his
back and up toward his head"
Third Statement.
Reporter No. g.
On arriving at the japanese en-
bassy shortly before l o'clock Saturday
afternoon, March 26, questioned Capt,
Edward J. Kelly, who was in command,
as to how many policemen were on the
scene. He informed me that there were
approximately rs in the basement Of the
building
"A few minutes later the first group
Of marchers arrived near the embassy.
They came in taxicabs, among them
being a colored boy, William Dorsey.
whom police promptly chased from the
was arrested and police told me they
would hold him on a charge of vag-
rancy.
BY that time approximately $50 to
200 had gathered on the west side of
Massachusetts, avenue. about $50 feet
west of the embassy. I noticed num-
Der having paper rolls in their hands
that looked like placards. At that time
was with Capt Kelly.
When he saw the crowd forming
he sent a policeman into the basement
of the embassy for Is policemen. When
this squad arrived Kelly marched them
toward the group which had crossed
the street and was on the south side
walk
THE parade had started and I no.
ticed the marchers advancing and dis
playing several placards. In advance
Of Kelly were approximately 10 photog-
raphers taking pictures. In the fore
front was girl who later was identified
as Joan Hardy and a boy identified as
Donald E. Plympton.
Kelly held up his hands and the
marchers came to a stop. The police
commander was very courteous. He
asked the girl if she had a permit to
parade. She informed him 1t was in
the rear. He then asked who was the
leader and she replied, We are all
leaders
While Kelly was interrcgating the
girl noticed the police, including sew
eral men l identified as plainclothes-
men, spreading out around the march
ers. Kelly stepped back and the march
erS resumed their parade. They
oA@AACO ~ le6I, when i
noticed police jumping into the ranks
The first snatched at placards, but a
moment later a free -for-all fight was
started
Noticing the police using their clubs
freely, put my police press pass in the
band Of my hat and attempted to get
around TO where a young girl and two
policemen were struggling, but the re-
serves which had been called out from
the basement blocked my path. l then
returned to the head of the column,
where / saw several men on the ground
and heard the thuds of police clubs
crash on skulls.
My attention was called to the fight
the girl was making against 200-pound
policeman. saw several civilians rush
toward this spot and again made an
effort to get there. This time I sue
ground.
g! was within five feet of her, but
could not reach her because Of the fight
being waged. I saw one marcher get
Wlthln a foot OF her when he was club
bed and he fell almost over her body.
pointed out the girl lying on the
ground TO photographer and he at
tempted to take a picture of her on
the ground between the legs of fighting
men
AS I turned from this spot to re-
trace my steps to the foot of the COL
umn a policeman advanced toward me
With upraised club. I pointed to my
press badge and he dropped his clubs
and let me pass
After viewing the fight until it prac-
ucally was under control, I then ran
east on Massachusetts avenue in the
direction Of an apartment house, where
l made arrangements to use tele-
phone. Hardly had I gotten underway
before another policeman blocked my
path with upraised club. again pointed
to my press pass"
I did not see a marcher strike a blow
until the 6ght was we'll underway"