Evening star., 1952-09-17
RosedaIe Closed
Pending Accord
On Racial Status
Decision Reached
At Meeting After
Fight at Playground

tiansen after q morning confer
ence with United States Attorney
Charles M. Helan and police of
f1cers.
They were spurred to quick ac-
tion by the disorder that flared
about 4 pm. yesterday at the
playground at Seventeenth and
Gales streets NE, q hotbed Of
anti = segregation agitation for
many months.
Walter T. Lucas, Al, colored, Of
lT54 E street NE, was in serious
condition at Gallinger Hospital
after q battle with baseball bats
and bricks. Rocco A. Colandreo.
~, of l248 Newton street NE,
was charged along with Lucas
with assault with g deadly weapon
and "affray."
Incident Discussed at Meeting.
Before the morning meeting,
Mr.. Christensen discussed the in
eident with Frank H. Collins,
Recreation Board chairman, who
Is i'll at home. Both agreed the
playground should be closed at
this time.
1T should remain closed until
the situation is clarified" Mr.. Col
Inns said. referring to the long
controversy over the racial status
of RoSedale, go.
Others attending the conference
were Inspector George Wallrodt,
appointed by Police Chief Robert
v. Murray to oversee police action
at the playground: Assistant
United States Attorney John B.
Diamond and Capt. Lewis Peters,
1t. John o. Hite and Sergt. Fran
els Davis. all of the Ninth Precinct.
New Law Discussed.
One matter they discussed was
the applicability Of the new un-
lawful entry statute to cases OIL
trespassing on Fairgrounds. The
law. passed by Congress this year,
makes it unlawful to enter or at
tempt to enter public property un-
der certain conditions. Convic-
ton carries . 500 fine. six months
Imprisonment. or both.
Before the conference, Mr..
Christensen said the law would
be explored to determine whether
adequate police protection could
be given playground supervisors.
Mr.. Irelan said following the
parley that the playground would
be closed ''in order that the entire
matter may be threashed out" but
he would not discuss the illegal
entry law. Another conference
was scheduled for 2:30 pm. in his
Office.
A report Of yesterdays fracas
was sent by Chief Murray to Com
missioner F. Joseph Donohue, who.
In turn, forwarded q copy to Com
missioner Renah F. Camalier.
The playground has been
the scene Of repeated picketing
this summer by colored residents
requesting q non-segregation poll
icy there. Since the agitation be-
gan, white persons have not been
using the grounds so much.
Police Are Alerted.
Yesterday, police were alerted
to possible trouble when a caller,
identifying himself as manager
of the Trinidad Boys Club" said
a large number Of white boys were
going to the playground IN the
afternoon.
A few minutes after pm. a
policeman detailed ito watch the
grounds reported that about 100
white children, q few colored chill
dren and some adults had gath
cred inside the playground. and
that about $50 colored children
and adults were around the
grounds outside the 7-foot fence.
1t. Hite and Sergt. Davis Of
the ninth precinct went to the
scene and witnessed fight that
resulted in the arrest of Lucas, q
Government clerk. and Colandreo.
4 refrigerator mechanic.
Lucas was in Gallinger Hospital
with a possible skull fracture. a
broken front tooth and head and
lip cuts.
Police Officers Story.
Sitting in a car on the Seven
teenth street side of the gate, 1t.
Hite said he observed the follow
ing:
He heard Lucas. standing on the
outside of the grounds. say. I'm
going in" Lucas walked around
to q locked gate ct Seventeenth
and r streets. followed on the in
side by Colandreo who was carry
ing a baseball bat.
Lucas made an unsuccessful ef-
fort to climb the fence, then
turned and ran down Seventeenth
street. while Colandreo and two
youths armed with bats followed
him on the other side Of the
fence.
At that moment Lucas was hid
den from view by bushes. but later
was seen to enter his home on the
other side Of the street.
Returning quickly. Lucas picked
up half . brick and hurled it into
the playground, He also now had
q Bat, and was seen to lash q
switch-biade knife.
Decide to Intervene.
It. IIite and sergt. Davis de-
cided 1t was time to- intervene.
but as they left their car, Lucas
began running again. followed on
the other side Of the fence by o
large group Of white people.
When they stopped, Lucas and
Colandreo began swinging their
bats ct one another across the
fence. neither apparently striking
. blow. Lucas tossed his bat into
the playground. but hit no one.
Some one threw part Of brick
from inside the playground which
possibly struck Lucas.
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