The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-20
TESTIMONY IN DETAIL.



WASHINGTON. May 19.-Former Cor
poral Richard OBrien, of North Adams,
Mass, of Company NJ, Twenty-sixth Vol
unteers, who served in the Philippines for
eighteen months, was before the Senate
committee on the Philippines to-day.
Before Mr.. O'Brien took the witness
stand Chairman Lodge laid before the
committee a letter from Gen. r. p. Hughes
inclosing a letter from Senator Culberson,
of the committee. to Capt. V. H. Bridge
man, of Baltimore, Md, and reply to that
letter. In his letter Senator Culberson said
he had been informed that Captain Bridge
man could testify of having heard General
Hughes and other officers give orders for
the administration of the water cure. Capt.
Bridgeman's reply contained denial of
this report. General Hughes In his letter
said that if there was to be an investiga-
ton it should be thorough, and he inclosed
a roster of officers in his command whom
he said he would like to have summoned
if his conduct was to be inquired into.
General Hughes in his letter said II pre-
sumo there were about 25,0 900 troops in my
command first and last, and l am certain
that no one of them can truthfully assert
that 1 ever conscientiously, verbally or in
writing directly or indirectly, by sign or
signal authorized, instructed or ordered any
of them to use the so-called water cure
in any form or of any character whatever"
Senator Patterson read a letter from W.
S Sniffen, of Boston, concerning the letter
of son of the Rev. Mr.. Walker, serving
in the Philippines, in which. it was stated,
he had given the details of the killing of
1000 Filipinos. MI. Sniffen said that not
withstanding Mr. Walkers denial there was
in his conduct and statements justification
of the newspaper report.
UNSUPPORTED CHARGES.
Witness O'Brien said that he had been
present at Igbaras when the water cure
was administered to the presidente of that
town, and then made a charge of a serious
nature against the American officers there.
There was" he said, "a Spanish woman in
the town-a woman of education-who was
violated by the American officers"
This statement was made without any
questioning and as soon as the witness had
made it Senator Lodge asked for the names
of the officers. These. the witness said. he
could not give adding that he had not
witnessed the incident, but that the wom-
| ans husband was his authority for the
! statement.
! Senators Rawlins and Patterson objected
to the testimony as mere hearsay and urged
| that it should not go into the record. The
witness then was asked If he could not
| give further proof OF the correctness of his
charge. In response he related another
| instance of disorderly conduct which, he
said, had come under his own observation
| This occurred at San Joaquin, the presidente
| of which place gave reception to which
| Of tive fpxrif af
| from Iloilo. They were he said, "abovC
the average-not peasant women"
| Among those present We're Captain Nc
| Donald, Lieut.. Plummer, of Company NJ
and Major Cook. The witness said these Of
ficers became intoxicated and while in thai
| condition threw off all their clothes eX
| cept their undershirts and their trousers
and catching the women about the waist:
insisted on their Waiting with them, much
| TO the disgust of the women.
! Further questioning brought out the fact
/ that OBrien had not been on good terms
| with Captain Mcdonald. This was due, hi
said TO the fact that Mcdonald had failed
| TO issue the Tations due to his men. He be
/ lieved though he had no proof, that the
! officer had sold the rations which should
| have been issued TO the men. He said thai
they had meat only twice week and bread
| only twice during the entire eighteeT
| months of his stay in the Philippines. H,
| went on to say that there was a price or
! the captains head, offered by the insurg
! ents because of the officers cruelties. Wit
! over the head with a revolver. and saiC
/ that the water cure was administered TO th'
! same prisoner after he had taken the oatf
/ of allegiance.
O'Brien then related the particulars o.
| the capture of the town of 10 Nag. in th'
| province of Panay, by detachment from
| a company of which he was a member
AS the troops approached the town they
| saw at a distance a native boy a cara
boo. and one of the men fired shot at him
but as his bullet failed TO hit its objec
| others also fired, himself included.
FIRED WITHOUT ORDERS.
At first the witness said he had fired il
obedience to orders and then said that Their,
had been no orders to fire.
II can't tell why fred he added, wheI
pressed; "all fred
This shooting" he proceeded. "brough
the people TO their doors and among thos,
who came out was an old man who wa.
shot in the abdomen and afterwars died
Later while the firing was In progress tive
other old men between the ages OF fifty anC
seventy, i should say. came out toward VI
hand I'm hand and bearing a white flag
Both were shot down and the sergeant re
ported 10 Captain Mcdonald that he haC
killed two more 'niggers.' Another cas-