Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-30
WHIPPING OF FILIPINOS
NO EVIDENCE THAT ARMY OF
FICER WAS RESPONSIBLE.

Acting Secretary Oliver visited the
White House today and conferred with the
President in regard to the case of Major
Robert l.. Howe. Porto Rico Provisional
Regiment of Infantry, who has been under
investigation at various times during the
past two years for alleged cruel treatment
% Filipino prisoners at LaoaS, Island OF
Luzon. in April and May. 1901.
In May last Secretary Root appointed a
board consisting of Brig. Gen. Francis
Moore and Lieut.. Coils. S. r. Whithall.
9th Infantry and +. J. Ward, list Cav
airy. to investigate the truth of certain
aff1da Wits procured by Maj Hunter in his
investigation of the Howe case. The
board was also to determine whether the
Investigation made by Maj. Hunter was
impartial and in accordance with the Or
ders under which he acted
The findings of this board were made pub
lie at the War Department today. The
record of the proceedings is voluminous,
covering 755 pages and is accompanied by
July IA. 1902. and completed its investiga-
ton September following. Major Howe
and Major Hunter appeared before the
board and were assisted in the presentation
of their cases by competent counsel
The board. after carefully weighing all
the testimony before it. both oral and docu-
mentary finds follows. under the two
heads of inquiry contained in the depart
Army Officers Not Responsible.
First How much truth is there in these
affidavits?'
THAT these affidavits are true in SO far
as they state that native prisoners were
whipped and in some cases very severely
whipped. But that no prisoner was whipped
sufficiently to cause death, and the board
does not believe any prisoner died from
that cause
THAT the native prisoners were whipped
by native policemen acting under the orders
and supervision of one Aguido Agbayani, a
native now dead then acting as civil sec
rotary of the province. That these whip
pings were inflicted by the said Aguido
Agbayani without authority. and that there
is nothing in evidence to show that the
commanding officer or any military officer
gave any orders or authority for or was
cognizant of any of these whippings
And the board does not believe that Lieut..
Col. Howe, or any other officer, knew of
them until they were reported to Maj Sw-
CERT. then temporarily in command, who at
once stopped them. which action was con-
firmed and enforced by Lieut.. Col. Howe
on his return to the post: and, further, the
board does not believe that any whppings
| took place after they were stopped by Maj
Swigert
An Impartial Investigation.
Second. Was the investigation made by
Major Hunter an impartial investigation in
accordance with the order under which he
acted?
1.-The evidence before the board shows
that Major Hunter at the time of making,
the investigation. was unfriendly to and
had spoken bitterly of Lieutenant Colonel
Howe, but there is nothing to show that
the investigation was not strictly impartial
and in accordance with the order under
which he acted. And the board believes
that the investigation was fair and impair
tial so far as 1t extended and that it was
as nearly complete was within Major
Hunters power at the time he made it,.
Action on the Findings.
Judge Advocate General Davis made a
careful review of the proceedings and find
irgs of the board, and on his recommends
| ton Gen. Oliver. Acting Secretary of War.
approved the findings of the board as to
| the first head of inquiry, and disapproved
| the findings under the second head of
| inquiry. on the ground that the latter find
| iEgs are contradictory in terms, and not
warranted by the testimony ELECTED by the
board during the progress of investigation"
The Howe case was OF those men.
| toned by Gen. Miles in his report of al
legged cruelties in the Philippines. The
| findings of the board and the action Of the
| department are regarded as being vim
| dication of the action of Major Howe ana
Major Hunter.
Il