The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-18
WAS BETRAYED BY
nEPUTY SHERIFF
SAYS CAPT. R. NJ. HITCH
HAS FORWARDED HIS REPORT TO
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL.

Were Absolutely Right and Prop
err, He Says-He Praises the Of
iccrs and Men Under Him for
Their observation-disclosures Entire
Responsibility for what Occurred.
Just Why There Was No shoot
ing.
Cant. Robert NJ. Hitch. commander
of the composite company at States
boro. from which the mob took the
prisoners, Cato and Reed, charges that
he was betrayed by a deputy sheriff,
or bailiff. and that the mob could never
have taken the men had it not been
for this betrayal and the action of
Sheriff Hendricks. who pointed out
the prisoners.
He assumes the responsibility for
not shooting into the mob up to the
time he was captured and disarmed.
He says there was no occasion for fir
ing before that.
Capt. Hitchs report was last night
forwarded to the Adjutant General
Until it was mailed he could not dis
cuss the matter.
Following is a statement from him of
the affair, the first that he has made:
According to military regulations,
it would have been grossly improper
for me to have made any statement
for publication prior to the sending of
my official report to the Adjutant Cen
eral Col. Grayson was authorized by
wire from the Adjutant Generals Of
flee this afternoon to permit the pub
LEGATION of the report as soon as 1t
had been forwarded l am therefore
at liberty now to submit the full re-
port for publication, and to make such
additional comments as l may deem
proper. The copy of the official report,
furnished for publication. covers in
detail practically all important facts
connected with the tour of duty from
the beginning to end.
Much Cruel Inaccuracy.
"A number of misleading statements,
almost cruel in their inaccuracy, have
gained circulation since the tragedy
at Statesboro on Tuesday. 1t has Deen
very trying to hear those statements
commented upon. and to know that
conclusions were being drawn there
from, without being able to promptly
correct them. A soldier must Dear
these things, however, the same as he
must bear blows on the head.
1T has been stated that the pieces Of
the men were left unloaded to avoid
great loss of life that might have re-
suited. The intimation carried by this
statement is that no shooting was to
be done under any circumstances. This
is particularly unkind and untrue.
Shooting was not to be resorted to ex-
cept in the last extremity. and when
all other measures had failed.
The pieces were customarily left an
loaded during the tour of duty at
times when there were no indications
of approaching disorder, to prevent ac-
cidental shots being fired. with posi-
BILE disastrous effects, and to gain the
advantage which would be given at a
time of approaching trouble by the
command TO load, and the execution of
the command i'm the presence OF the
mob. have seen the beneficial effect
of this course of procedure while per-
forming riot duty on another occasion.
why Guns Weren't Loaded.
81 did not wish to load until the
time for shooting arrived. The course
10 be pursued in this particular neces-
sarily varies with every occasion. No
one can determine what is the proper
course on an occasion of this sort
so we'll as those on duty at the time,
TO the contrary by those who were
not there, and who pronounced what
should have been done after every
thing had occurred. In this case I
am satisfied that the course pursued
was absolutely correct, and under
similar circumstances, and with the
same lights before me, l would do
exactly the same again.
Il desire to assume full responsible
My for the fact that no shooting was
done at the front stairway of the
Court House up to the moment when
] was betrayed by the sheriffs bailiff,
or special deputy. who gained my side
without suspicion, threw his arms
around me, gripped my arms to my
sides and then threw me down the
stairway and into the hands of the
bowling mob
''As there may be some dispute as
to the identity of this man, and as
to his particular official title and po-
sition, / desire to say that he wore a
black mustache had black hair, a
black but clear complexion, was
frame. about feet or 10 inches in
hight. weighed perhaps 175 pounds,
and wore a dark suit.
Had Issued Pass to Man.
had been introduced to him the
day before and knew him thoroughly
as one of the sheriff's assistants His
name do not recall, nor am l certain
whether he was bailiff or a deputy.
He was one or the other, however, and
was in the Jail with us the night be-
fore, when the prisoners were carried
from the court house to the Jail
Il issued pass for this very man to
pass the line OF sentines i'm the night.
Up to the time when / was seized by
this man at the foot Of the front stair
way in the court house, the time for
firing had not in my judgment ar
rived.
For an hour and three-quarters the
mob, in continual hand to hand fight
ang with the guards, had been defeat
ec in every rush, and in every attempt
to ascend the stairways. / had from
is TO p men banked two and two up
each of these stairways, all of them
standing at the charge bayonet.- II
was an absolute impossibility for the
mob TO have ever assembled these stair
ways, or have gotten to the prisoners
in any manner as long as these guards
held their ground
Beating tks Blob Back.
~Eot more thar two or three OF the
GUARDS on the bottom steps could no
attacked at one time and only a few
men could get 10 them at one time. and
as fast as they did so, the guards above
would press down on the men at the
front OF the mob and either shove them
back at the point Of the bayonet. or
beat them off with the butts of their
rifles. If firing on the mob had AT last
become necessary, and the guard had
been forced back up the stairways