The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-14

to-day ordered a general court-martial
to convene in Savannah on Sept. 30
for the trial of Capt. Robert M. Hitch
First Lieutenants r. e. Cone and
George A. Nell, Assistant Surgeon
tenant H. l.. Griner on charges of
dereliction of duty on account
of their failure to prevent the
lynching by a mob of Reed and Cato
the negroes convicted at Statesboro
of the murder of the Hodges family.
This decision was reached to-day by
Gov Terrell shortly after the report
of the court of inquiry had been pre-
sented to him by Col. w. E. Wooten,
it's president. The court reaches the
conclusion that all of the officers
named were guilty of neglect of duty,
holding that the force of troops under
command of Capt. Hitch was sufficient
to have prevented the lynching had it
been properly handled.
Surgeon Morrison is held accounta-
Bile for a failure to give proper notice
with regard TO the need for reinforce
ments at the Court House and also
with interfering with Lieut.. McIntire
in the discharge of his duty.
The court finds that Lieut.. McIntire
and the men under him discharged
their full duty.
Was No Surprise.
The report of the court and the ac-
tion of the Governor in ordering a
court-martial is no surprise in military
circles here. In fact, it has been the
general belief all along that the matter
would take this course. Gov. Terrell
had stated, too that if the report of
the court indicated the necessity for
it, he would order a court-martial
rather than take summary action him
self, which he is allowed to do under
the military law.
Following is the court appointed by
the Governor to-day to meet in Sa-
vannah on Sept 90 for the trial of
these officers on the charges set forth
in the report of the court of inquiry:
Members of the Court.
Col. Clifford l.. Anderson, Fifth In
fantry, Atlanta, president.
Lieut.. Col. William Garrard, retired,
Savannah.
Lieut.. Col. Charles w. Griffin, Sec
ond Infantry, Griffin.
Maj. A. II. Devaughn, Third Infan-
try, Augusta.
Maj. Walter A. Harris, Second In
fantry, Macon.
Maj. Joseph Van Holt Nash, assist
ant Inspector general of rifle practice,
Atlanta.
Capt. H. p. Hunter, Third Infantry,
11lberton.
Capt. III. A. Wilkinson Fourth In
fantry, Dawson.
Capt. l.. A. Robinson, First Infantry,
Brunswick.
Capt. w. w. Gordon, Jr., First Cav
airy, Savannah.
Capt. James L. Mann, Fourth In
fantry, Albany.
Capt. w. T. b. Wilson, First Cav
airy, Atlanta
Capt. Il. j. Stewart, Fifth Infantry,
Rome.
Col. George NJ. Napier, judge advo-
cate general, Monroe.
Conclusions of the Court.
The court found the following con-
illusions as to the facts
That Capt. Robt. M. Hitch, Com
pany l, First Infantry, G. S. T., was
ranking officer at Statesboro on the
occasion named in the order convening
this court, and that under him were
the following officers. First Lieutenant
Charles e. Cone, Company A, First
Infantry, G. S. T.; First Lieutenant
George A. Nell, Company l, First In
fantry, G. S. T.; Second Lieutenant
James w. McIntire, Jr., Company ID,
First Infantry, G. S. r., and Second
Lieutenant Henry L. Griner. Company
A, First Infantry G. S. 7.
That the total strength of the COM
mand, including officers and men, was
ll5
That Capt. Hitch had supreme COM
mand and was ordered by the Hon.
A. F. Daley, judge. to take complete
charge of the situation, and was given
plenary power to protect the prisoners
held for the murder Of the Hodges
family, he 10 take such steps as In his
judgment and discretion were neces-
sary for their protection; and that
First Lieutenant and Assistant Sur
geon a. A. Morrison, First Infantry.
g. $. r.. while acting IN the capacity
81 assistant surgeon, although ununi-
formed, and who WAS used by Capt.
Hitch as medium Of communica-
tion' he having free insress and
egreas 60 and from the Court House
during the period of riotinE BY roa-
con of the fact that be- was in civilians
dreHs could have been successfully
used 20 convey orders for reinforce
menis from the lHree detachment at
fhe camp
soldiers uaniamsd - une.
lHaf fhs mob. = lnsf HHmlHff Wrfa