The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-07-08
NO DECISION IS
GIVEN AS YET IN
HARRISON CASE
PRELIMINARY HEARING CON-
GUIDED YESTERDAY AFT
ERNOON; CASE DEALS
WITH FIRING GUNS

No decision WAS rendered yes
terday afternoon at the cOnclu
sion of the preliminary hearing
of Scoutmaster NJ. X. Harrison,
charged with the possession OF
and firing firearms within the
pre- cribed limits of Fort Jeffer-
son National Monument, contrary
to the rules and regulations gov
crning these national areas.
United States Commissioner c.
Rodney Gwynn, before whom the
case was heard, said this morning
that it was his intention to go
over the entire testimony and the
dispositions of boy scouts in Mi
ami, before the decision would be
rendered. He expected this would
be done within the next several
days.
Happened On June %
The. beginning OF the ease dates
back to June % when Troop AZ,
Boy Scouts OF Miami, was spend
ing a vacation at Fort jefferson
and on the Tug Petrol, from
Kew West. Custodian of Fort
jefferson Fred Eterhardt. who
was in Key West, was informed
that despite being warned by one
Of his employees that the use of
firearms was forbidden, the troop
members continued to use them.
The next day the custodian
left with Commander Won Paul
son of the Coast Guard base at
Miami on the Plane Arcturus. Ar
irving there they boarded the
Petrol, and confiscated a number
OF firearms. Thccc were brought
to Key West and later sent to
Miami to be returned to the
scouts.
Asked upon his return to the
city what was the reason for the
confiscatiOn OF arms, Mr.. Eber-
hardt said the mon were using
the firearms east OF Bush Key
which. he said, was well within
the area Of the monument.
The following jay. June "a, the
scouts returned to Kew West and
ScOutmastcr Harrison was served
with a warrant Issued out of
United States court which charg-
ed him with having and discharg-
ing firearms within the limits of
the monument.
Gives Reason
At the time of the arrest, Mr..
Eberhardt said he had learned
from his mon employed at the
monument that aftar the weapons
had been confiscated the firing
had continued and for this rea-
son he had placed the scOutmaster
in arrest.
The same afternoon Captain
Harrison appeared before TIE u.
S. Comm S5ioner CIV nm and post
ed bond for his appearance for
preliminary hearing Yesterday.
He arrived Yesterday plotting a
plane from Miami.
Others to apr car at the trial
were Attorney John Lindsay of
Mani. for the "efe1se, and a
father of Tom Lindsay. member
Of Troop AZ; Lieutenant Com
mander Rainev. OF the coast
guard; Herbert e. KGhler, Flor
ida superintendent of national
parks, not 4 witness; JAY V. KEEL
sey. not a witress. Florida Rep
res entative of the II. s. Biological
Survey; Clarence Thompson, pill
OF and captain IL charge of the
Petrol; Myron Russell, who assist
ed in the navigation of the tug
Roland Roig ard Sam Sawyer,
employees of Fir. Eberhardt at
Fort jefferson, and Mr.. Eber-
hardt.
Taking of testimony lasted I'M
tt almost time for rlane to leave
at A O'clock for Miami. At that
time the commissioner announced
that he would reserve his de-
cision until he had time to go
over the testimony. which nc had
taken down in shorthand, and
also the testimony of the boy
scout deponents taken in Miami.