The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1904-08-31
Ordered by Gov, Terrell Re-
garding Action of Troops.
JUDGES ARE SELECTED
Rioid Investigation of Whole Matter
viii Be Had and Blame Placed
Personnel OF the
Court!

A court of inquiry to investigate tne
part played by the military in the g.
cent Statesboro episode was appoint
ed by Governor Terrell of Georgia.
Tuesday
This action was taken q few hours
after the governors arrival from ST.
Louis, but after he had discussed the
matter at length with Adjutant Gener-
al Harris and had read the various re-
ports and ahidayits fled since the
burning of Reed and Cato
The court of inquiry was called to
meet in Savannah Thursday, August
rs, and to be composed of the follow
inc militia officers, their first named
being the president Of the court;
Colonel A. +. Lawton, of Savannah,
retired; Colonel w. E. Wooten, OF Al
.bany: Lieutenant Colonel w. w. Bar
ker, of Atlanta; Major r. l.. WHY, OF
ThomasyiHe; Captain Warren Grice'
of Hawkinsville.
No charges will be filed with the
court Of inquiry and no particular indl-
viduals will be cited to appear, the in
vestigation including every militaman,
either officer or private, detailed for
duty at Statesboro. In addition to the
oral testimony of witnesses, the court
of inquiry will have before it for con-
sideration the reports and affidavits
fled with Adiutant General Harris and
submitted by him to the governor.
The Statesboro affair was, of course,
uppermost in the mind Of Governor
Terrell when he arrived in Atlanta
Tuesday He was more or less famil-
lar with the situation from newspaper
reports, official and private kilograms
and letters, and had been considering
the matter since it's occurrence. So
the first thing he did on arriving at
his Office was to arrange for a confer
ence between himself and Adjutant
General Harris, which resulted in the
call for an inquiry.
In announcing the appointment Of
officers for a court of inquiry, Cover
nor Terrell discusses the lawlessness
on that occasion at length.
The crime against the negroes who
were burned at the stake, declares the
governor, was of small importance
compared with the great crime against
the state
He does not censure either the civil
or tn emilitary authorities in the alb
sence of full investigation, but de-
clares they were both there to pre-
serve the peace and protect the majes-
ty Of the law at all hazards and failed.
The governor says:
Il was greatly surprised and shock
ed over the StatesbOrO occurrence. |
had been advised OF the necessity of
sending to Statesboro during the trial
of the murderers of the Hodges family
a military guard for the preservation
of peace and order, which | did Be-
fore my departure for St. Louis l was
informed that the trial was proceeding
orderly, and that nowhere was there
any evidence whatever Of an intention
on the part of those present to inter-
fere with the regular administration
Of justice. | was therefore not prepar-
ed to believe as true the news, which
l received en- route, Of the action of
the mob, so horribly revolving and
sickening in its details. / have been
greatly mortified over the crime Of
this mob. l take comfort in the fact
that it did not represent the sentiment
Of this state, for its action is con.
demned by a large majority of the peo-
pie of the state, and as for that mat
ter, of Statesboro and Bulloch county,
the scene of the crime. No defense
can, and no apology should be, made
for this action of the mob It should
be denounced by law-abidlng citizens
everywhere "