The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-14
Practical Indictment Of.
Officers Involved in
StdteSbOrO Affair.
REPORT OF BOARD
WAS SUBMITTED
Document Declares That Order
Of Captain Hitch Had Gen
eral Effect Of Restraining
the Men From Loading
Guns-Lieut. Mc1n-
tyre Exonerated.
(ByE Associated Press.)

ii
ATL...,4 a, GA, September is After
receiving and consid ering the full report
Of the Statesboro Court of Inquiry, Gov
ternor Terrell has! ordered a court-martial
to decide whether or not Captain Hitch
Lieutenant Nell. Lieutenant Griner. Lieu
tenant Cone and Lieutenant Morrison
we're derelict In their duty during there
cent trouble at Statesboro. The court
martial will convent at Savannah Sep
5tember 10th, and Is composed Of the fol-3
lowing officers in the Georgia militia:
81 Colonel Clifford l.. Anderson, Atlanta
president.
& Leutenant-C Colonel William Garrasad,
retired, Savannah, Ga. I,
Lieutenant-C Colonel Charles W. Graffln,i
Eastman. Ga S.{
58 Me- jor5 AZ H. Devaugh h, Augusta, ca. Il
Major Walter a.. Harris. Macon, Ga.
b Ma jor Joseph ". II. Nash, Atlanta, Ga.
s Captain H p Hunter. Elberton, Ga.
Captain II. "A. Wilkinson, Dawson, Ca
Captain L. a.. Robinson, Brunswick, Ga.
Captain William ". Gordon, Jr., savan-
nah. Ga. s5Sj.5 S5lS
Captain James T. Mann, Albany, Ga,
~ Captain w. B. Wilson. Atlanta, Ga.
4 Captain 7. J. Stewart, Rome, Ga.
Colonel George#A1. Napier, Judge advo-
cate general. Georgia State troops, At
.lanta, will be Judge advocate OF the court
'yrhe conclusion Of the court Is that
the troops could have taken tho pris-
.Cners from the mob. even after they
left the courthouse, hid vigorous efforts
been used instead or no attempt Mt all"
The report refers to the fact that the
only instructions given the men as to
when to- load and Ire was tha given
by Captain Hitch Oh the train, requiring
them not to load or fire except when
specif ifically instructed to do So, these in
structlons having the effect gem
orally OF restraining the men from
loading their guns when attacked by the
mob.
Ia Two instances Of soldiers loading and
threatening to shoot q were referred to
when the desired effect was had on the
mob, as these two soldiers n held their
ground, ,'.thus furnishing evidence OF the
effect on the mob Of determined resist
ance.''&.
3 The report closes with the statement:
'.From the evidence submitted, the
court concludes that there was a desire
and effort on part of the enlisted men
to perform their whole duty II they had
been permitted by those In immediate
authority and command
No recommendations were made to the
Governor by the court the report be-
ing simply the conclusions of the court
and the evidenceEas submitted during the
investigation. a5
PRACTICALLY AN s1NDICTMENT.
The report OF the court of inquiry
amounts practically to an indictment OF
the officers in charge Of the troops at
#statesboro. Lleutcnant Mcintyre was
the only commissioned officer exoneratcd
by the court. His action III making an
attempt to withstand the mob and pro-
tcct the prisoners is praised by the
court. s5 "a. Z -
The report goes into detail stating that
the evidence failed to disclose any ener-5
getic efforts on the part Of the military
authorities to dispense the mob and lIke-s
wise failed to disclose any serious cas-
ualties either to the mob or military
That part Of the report relating to Cap
tain Hitch Is as folloWs:s
THAT the force under Captain Hitch.
was suf,lciently large to have afforded
protection to the prisoners had IT been
properly handled, but the commanding
officer did not use proper precautions.
nor was his conduct sufficiently enar-
gctic or forceful. he having failed to
avail himself of the services OF a largo
percentage Of his command, which was
within his reach and available.