Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-10-24
| Staher Battle Probed
only by Shore Patrol,
|ForrestaI Letter Says
Secretary of the Navy Forrestal

0CCI ctdly VI tlAC hNRNy = oA1ScesS'
was quoted in District Court to-
day as saying the Battle of the
Statler" on September 8, 1914, was
Investigated at Shore Patrol Level
and pursued no further.
Former Representative Melvin j
Mas, Republican, OF Minnesota
who was ranking minority men,
Der of the House Naval Affairs
Committee at the time, gave this
testimony in the suit Of Randolph
Dickens, jr., former Navy. lieutenant
who is suing Daniel ]. Tobin, pres
ident Of the International Brother
hood of Transfers (AFL) and his
union for 100000 libel damages
The suit grew out of report In
the Transfers magazine of the fist
fight in the hotel after the late
President Roosevelt had addressed
union dinner.
Mr.. Mas, q colonel in the Marine
Corps Reserve, said he wrote Mr.
Forrestal at the time because Of
his interest in the activities of Navy
personnel.
The Navy Secretary's answer, ir
a letter which was introduced In
evidence, said no charges had beer
made against Mr.. Dickins and that
no investigation of the incident was
pending. The Shore Patrol investi-
cation of the affair concluded the
inquiry. Mr.. Forrestal's letter said
Denies Intoxication.
Robert F. Ross, rs, former Shore
Patrol officer, who answered call
to the hotel on the night of the
incident, testified yesterday he be-
lieved neither of the officers was in
toxicated.
Mr.. Ross testified that when he
took the two officers to Shore
Patrol headquarters they noticed
buttons were missing from then
uniforms and requested needles ano
thread. He said they sewed on the
buttons themselves, and added he
did not believe drunkenness was
indicated when a man can thread
a needle"
When he arrived on the mezza.
nine, Mr.. Ross said, he estimated
30 or 40 men were present. AS Il
their attitude, he said he "undoubt.
edly felt it was threatening or
wouldn't have moved these mer
(the oficers) without finding out
whether charges were going to be
preferred"
The officers talked coherently anc
wrote their own statements, he de.
clared. He added he did not believe
1t necessary to have a blood alcoho
test made at the time.
Mr.. Ross said he later called ths
Statler and was connected with Mr.
Tobin, who, he said, declared 1t
knew nothing Of the fight and was
preferring no charges, and Their
Slammed the telephone receiver
Recalls Talking With Officer.
Francis J. Loveless, former public
relations ofiicer for the Potomac
River Naval Command. testified he
heard the tail end" Of such con.
versation on an. extension line, but
recalled no discourtesy or slam
ming" Of the telephone receiver.
Mr. Loveless said he talked with
Mr.. Dickins at Shore Patrol head.
quarters, and that Il would say he
was sober"
John Philip Lynch. assistant man.
ager Of the Statler, said he con-
Quoted the Shore Patrol officers te
the mezzanine. He testified he be-
lieved neither Of the Navy Officers
was under the influence Of liquor.
He said he would say the same thing
about the other people there"
Under cross-examination by Elishs
Hanson. attorney for the Team.
sters' International, Mr.. Lynch said
no report had been made to him
concerning any women being in
volved in the tight.