Evening star., 1942-07-24

Arrest Of IS Follows
Riot Of Thousands
Al Griffith Stadium
Crowds Surge on Field,
Pop Bottles Thrown in
Melee at Bottle of Music

An unlucky Is were under arrest
today after thousands rioted last
night during a Grifnth Stadium jit-
terbug jubilee.
Their o4fense was alleged partici-
patton In bottle-throwing and dis
orderly conduct" which turned a
widely advertised Battle of Music"
into just plain battle.
Two big-name bands had been
hired. The Charley Barnett mu-
siciarfs were able to play four Sc
lections, police said. but Maestro
Louis Armstrong was able to blow
only one long blast on his trumpet
and then his OUTFIT was through for
the night.
False Alarm Turned In.
Police Capt. Charles J. P. Weber
said trouble began when about 5000
persons, some of them ticket-holl-
ers, were kept outside the jammed
stadium. Some pushed at the gates
and bent them, others climbed the
fence. police said. Some one turned
in a false fire alarm which brought
engines screaming and a number
of people placed phone calls to
police headquarters saying that "a
policeman is in trouble"
These calls brought reinforcements
which later proved too few.
This was when crowds surged out
on the field, complaining they could
not hear the bands from their stands
on second base.
A call was issued for soldiers and
sailors and marines to join the 80
regular and auxiliary police who
were trying to hold back the Gus
toners. About 200 servicemen re-
sponded. joining hands to form
chain. Smaller persons were able to
duck between their legs, however.
Pop Bottles Thrown.
Fretting because the crowd milling
on the diamond was cutting of their
view, numbers In the grandstand
threw cut barrage OF pop bottles,
police declared, and the ammunition
was quickly retrieved and returned
toward its source.
The lines were thus laid down for
clear cut battle, but the situation
rapidly became confused. Police
said they arrested one man on the
field who was heaving a bottle, not
at the stands, but at q fellow-in-
arms on the diamond.
Fists proved useful for this close
range type Of combat, and it was
the urofdcial police belief that the
number of bruises and cuts was
large. Not case requiring hospi-
talization was reported, however.
Capt. Weber estimated that mo
more than 1000" went on the field
to become disorderly. He had no
estimate on those who conducted
their disorder in the stands.
The 13 seized by police were taken
to No. Is precinct station. They were
released last night and today as
quickly as they posted collateral.
Some indicated they would appear
in court: some chose to forfeit.
Capt. Weber said his stan was too
busy to furnish q list OF the cap
tured.
Four Show Up in Court.
Four had showed up, however. in
Municipal Court before noon. They
were listed as Clifton Gray. Myer b.
Frazier. Walter M. Mclaughlin and
Russell Young, all colored.
Judge Nathan r.. Margold gave
Gray . sentence Of SIS or Is days
after he pleaded not guilty to 4
drunkenness charge. Frazier re-
ceived a sentence of $50 or 20 days
for disorderly conduct.
A S fine on the same charge for
Young was suspended, and Nc
Laughlin's disorderly conduct case
was dismissed after policeman said
he had found the defendant sitting
atop a fence. Mclaughlin explained
he was merely trying to reach the
seat for which he had q ticket.