Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-12-01
DAMNING INDICTMENT
AGAINST BLACK TROOPS
So Lifelong Republican Styles
Affair ct Brownsville.
NO pROvoCATIoN FOR MURDER

osneraI Nettlston, Former Assistant
Secretary Of Treasury, Investigates
and Reports tina, the Negro Troops
Went After Trouble.
Broynsville. Tex. Nov. $50. Be
cause Of the apparent misunderstand :
ans in portions OF the country Of the
facts which called forth the order
aor the discharge OF the three compa-
mics OF negro soldiers recently sta
stoned here, and In view OF the fierce
criticism OF the presidents course In
abe matter, the citizens committee OF
Brownsville recently requested Gen.
eral A. y. Nettleton, OF Chicago, a
f0rmer assistant secretary OF the
treasury, now here on business, %
make, In HIS own way. a thorough
and disinterested investigation OF the
Brownsville tragedy OF Aug 80. and
report his conclusions.
General Nettleton has embodied his
findlngs IN letter TO the secretary
81 war, lie says in part:
"AE citizen OF lillonols, as anti
slavery advocate when that phrase
bad meaning, and as lifelong re-
publican, who served In the union
army throughout the civil war. shall
~ least not be suspected TO prejudice
against men of color az such
4 feel sure that only carefully dis
eeminated mislnformation az TO the
facts can account re- the present
gross miaapprehenslon op the part OF
many persona and journals,
without rehoaraing details Wish
10 assure you that this absolutely I'M
pfeiudiced Investigation, made after
local excitement has subsidized, Goa
arms in every particular the conoIu-
sions reached by the two army Of
fieeFa sent here by the war depart
meut. on the strength OF which the
president took hls action, a. well ~
tao very clear and temperate state
ment published Immediately after the
tragedy by Chairman Kelley. OF the
Brownsville citizens committee.
"That statement probably consti-
fnles the most conclusive aud damn
ink Indictment ever found against sol
oilers Of any race wearing the uniform
and welding the weapons Of a civil
1sed government"
After summarizing the facts. hlth-
Rrto published. ae 10 the killing Of
one citizen. the manning OF the chief
o. police, the frinE OF volleys into
and ghrouEh hotels. saloons and many
private residences and the terror
ialhg OF the ehtire town, he ooalin-
Ueas
"The well altested evidence. Goa
aroyerisd By none, IL that the oolorcd
sFpOps we're treated here with the
same consideration with which coll
oged soldiers Of llke bearing are treat
81 Ia most garrison towns 90 the
northern states. That on the otter
hahd. the street condao. oi some OF
them vas often aEErossiysly aud
cAasslessly insolenl toward white men
end Women that thers was no prove
cAtion toF the murdVroua raid b. the
soldiers, unlcts u can be called a
pfcvCca,ion that ,he drinkers among
aAem we're provided With separate bar
Gooms Ia certain saloons AID that 90
ewo occasions individual insoleaee
was reaented hy individual ciureas,
eoth 81 Whom hsppvp % have heea
Eernhlican federal oHeials,
~rhere VAS no riot and no stree, 1
.FoAs. az many newspaper persist !
a. caillng che occufrcnce n vas
EimpB q most oogarty conspiracy |
90 terflfy. aoana and kll upoaendlnr I
meh. Women and chIllrsn a. he h0ar
81 mldnlgat. whea defense ~ resist. I
enoe wes Impossible. ana uAs net
efea attempted gYidently a.;
EClurn shos vas nret
OfaCFsl Nettisioas hs,ter Sharply
Fsised the Qaoslioa uhat uero tat
Waiie ohesu - the rsFtlsoa doinr
- she uiga, % ne rai1, aaa ebasiar
theG
ln yiev ~ lhe facts as hnt
tatA asIs. AZ psssgnt aptenpi ~ nv
HAn ~ sons 81 mshe maFgFs of sag
f9Fltpn 0f ihe tiseatrge3 mea eeait (
~ s9taiarf, ga utse nas FFO,sslas /
Fht oepsF nt4 ~ silsegf - 80 psrt