The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-04-13
5URLY NEGRO PROTEST.


The Editor, Evening Statesman, Wal
la Walla, Washington:
In contradiction of the report pub
lished in your paper of the Sth inst,
am compelled to deny it as a base and
malicious piece of prevarication.
The investigation by the officer of
the day proved that every trooper was
in his bed at the time the assault was
reported to have taken place.
The night in question the woman
was out visiting and returned
to her home at late hour as
vouched for by one Of the neighbors;
her screams were not those of person
in fright and fearing bodily HARM but
those of a person under other inf1u-
ence.
The neighbors state that her screams
lasted fully fifteen minutes, the sun
being we'll up, any person that might
have been near her home could have
been recognized and a complete de-
scription of them given by the neigh
bOrs, unless they We're in a dream
themselves and like the majority of
people in Walla Walla too slow to wake
up.
This is not the first time that ru-
mors of this kind has been spread du-
ring the sojourn of the Ninth Cavalry
While the 30th. B. F. Artillery was at
this post, one of it's members disguised
himself as a trooper and attempted to
assault girl residing near the gar
risOn, but during the maee the burnt
cork with which he had smeared his
face and hands rubbed off and she
recognized him as a former friend of
the family. The matter was hushed
as soon as possible but the batteryman
fearing detection, deserted the SER
vice.
If this crime had not been hushed
and the batteryman recognized as a
white man, the blame would have been
laid upon some big, burly negro
trooper
The troopers of this command have
always tried to behave like soldiers
and men since coming to this town, so
as to reflect no discredit upon the regi-
ment which is an old and honorable
one. Besides having learned that ma
lightly existed between the citizens
post.
But if this continual agitation is not
ton of the Texas and Florida feuds in
which troops of the Ninth Cavalry
have fought to maintain their rights
and always with success.
The immortality of the city of Walla
Walla is such that it is unnecessary
for trooper to jeopardze his honor
and liberty to secure what can be OBJ
tanned much easier for gold, especially
in city where according to the press,
fathers commit assault upon their
daughters and an uncle commits in
cest upon his fourteen year-old niece
Also where women and girls of tender
ages roam the streets at night solicit
ing.
Monday, at retreat, the honorable old
lady, escorted by our colonel and two
stalwart policemen in swallow-ta tail
coats, inspected the entire squadron of
three hundred and fifty men, with the
result that no one could be found re-
sembling the big burly negro whom
she declared attempted to take her
virtue.
There is no worse curse in all the
stores of vengeance equal to the ma
lightly of such practice, and 1 ask you
careful in publishing reports that SIM
ply tend to create malevolence be-
tract that false and malicious state
ment that has started a small fire in
the hearts of the troopers against the
people of this. city, and which may
terminate in roarin furnace as in
Florida in 1898, and Texas in 1899.
We are perfectly willing that if any
of our comrades should behave in an
unsolderly manner to have punished
by law; Furthermore, the people Of
Walla Walla or the police either need
never worry if any trooper should ever
attempt assault upon any woman or
girl lin the city of Walla Walla, for we
will give him a free pass to the happy
hunting ground via the Grag Jorgsen
route.
Thanking you for the space that this