The sun., 1906-12-29
NEGRO SOLDIER ASKS JUSTICE
DISMISSED FROM THE ARMY Az
TER NEARLY 30 YEARS.
Sergeant MIngO Sanders In Washington
waiting and Hoping the President VIII
Relnstate IIim-He Would Have Re-
tired In May. 1905. OH q Pension.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 2s.--Mingo Sanders.
late sergeant of the Twenty-ffth Infantry,
three companies Of which, all composed Of
negroes, were discharged from the army
without honor by President Roosevelt on
charge of shooting up the town" OF
Brownsville, Tex, is in Washington. He is
waiting and hoping for word from the Com
mander in Chief that his name has been
restored to the rolls Of the army, in which
he served for nearly thirty years.
Il would have retired for age in May,
1905 on a pension Of sS5 a month, said the
colored veteran sadly tonight. Il don't
know how it's all going TO end. There seems
TO be a lot of fighting over it,"
Sanders, as is typical of his race. Is an
optimist He feels in his bones that it's
going 10 come out all right, but he doesn't
know just how. Long service as a soldier
has taught him reserve.
There isn't much for me 70 say" he con-
tinued. Il was not in the raid; neither do I
know who participated in it,"
Sanders is so years OF age but he does not
look his years. He is a dark skinned negro,
intelligent, bright and active. He was
born in South Carolina. Early in his youth
he spent some years in the Northwest, and
returning to his native State enlisted in
the army in May. 1873. Since that time,
when assigned, he has been with the Tewnty-
fifth.
Sanders is evidently crushed by the
misfortune that has befallen him and his
supposedly innocent comrades. He hardly
realizes THAT he has dofed the uniform
Of his regiment. He still speaks Of the
service as II he we're part of il.
On his arrival here early in the month
Sergt Sanders went at once to the War
Department, where he filed atfidavits in
his case. He did not see the Secretary or
War lie took up the matter with subor-
dinate. These affidavits set forth that
Sanders did not participate in the affairs
at Brownsville, that he did not and does not
know the names of the guilty persons,
and il is asserted that his record, which Ia
one of unusual excellence, is worthy of
consideration at the hands of the Com
mander-in-Chief.
He seems to have a great deal OF faith ia
the President, and his face was lighted with
"a pleasant smile when he mention ed Mr..
Roosevelt's name. He seems to have abso-
Lutte faith that his record will be cleared and
that he will be permitted to serve until re-
tired
Sanders is filed to overlooking with grief
and wounded pride, and is evidently de-
sirous of having an interview with the
President. This will probably be arranged
on Mr.. Roosevelts return from his holiday
vacation, OF at least a strong effort will be
made TO induce the President to listen to
Sanders's story.
Advices have been received by Secretary
Of War Taft that the commission, consist
ing of Assistant Attorney General Purdy,
Mai or Blocksoln Of the army and a stenog
rapher, has arrived at Brownsville. The
legal inquiry ordered by the President into
TO the dismissal OF the three companies Of
the Twenty-ffth, is now in progress. There
are about $50 witnesses to be examined.
They will be questioned behind closed
doors. but the testimony will be taken
verbatim Ivy shorthand reporters for peru
sal by the President and Secretary of War.
IL is expected that the investigation will be
completed in about ten days.