Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-22
IN PERIL FROM A MOB
Why CoIored Soldiers Were
IioVed From Brownsville.
COULDN'T GET FAIR TRIAL
Accusations Were Apparently Made
at Random.
TROUBLE HAD BEEN PREDICTED
Official Correspondence Regarding the
Affair of the 25th
Infantry.

The official correspondence in regard to
the Brownsville incident just made public
discloses several new and interesting fea-
lures. For instance, it is shown that Presi-
dent Roosevelt had received previous warn
ing from Senator Cufberson and others that
trouble would surely follow the sending of
Colored troops to Brownsville. 1t Is shown
also that an armed conflict between the
troops and the citizens of Brownsville was
narrowly avertcd at the time of the depar
ture of the troops But probably the most
significant disclosure made by the CORE
spondence is that the twelve colored SOL
diers arrested on suspicion would undoubt-
eddy have been lynched had they been sur
rendered to the civil authorities, was
repeatedly demanded by Capt. Mcdonald of
the Texas Rangers.
Danger Of Mob Violence.
Suspected men," Maj Blockson reported,
might get a fair trial here at hands of
civil authorities, but could not be properly
protected from mob violence"
Brig. Gen. McCaskey, comma nding the
Department Of Texas, said in his report:
81 do not believe that the lives of these
men Will be safe if they are turned over to
the civil authorities at Brownsville, nor
will their witnesses be safe if sent back
to that place. In view of present feeling,
action looking to the Immediate transfer of
these men to another place of confinement
pending trial is urged"
In consequence OF these reports. the COM
manding officer at Fort Brown was in
structed to retain the accused soldiers in
military control, under proper guard, and
not to surrender them to civil authorities
unless directed by the Secretary of War.
DO you think asked the military
tary in his telegram. IF colored troops
removed that company of 18th Infantry
now at Fort Brown is sufficient to protect
prisoners from violence there or to re-
move them safely from there if it should
be decided to remove them Immediately
For answer Gen. McCaskey recommended
that the prisoners at Fort Brown be sent
to Fort Sam Houston at San Antonio under
guard of the infantry battalion.
Asks President for Orders.
In a telegram to Secretary Loeb at Oyster
Bay. the military secretary said: Reports
from Texas indicate that civil authorities
cannot now protect accused men from mob
violence Have consulted with acting At
torney General Robb, Acting Judge Advo-
cate General Crowder. and Cen Bell. We
all agree that accused men Should be sent
Immediately to San Antonio and held there
until government can have reasonable
surance that they will receive protection
and fair trial at hands of civil authorities
We think il unsafe to leave accused at
Fort Brown with only one white company
of forty eight men to protect them.
I'VE also fear that turning them over to
civil authorities at Brownsville now or in
immediate future would be disastrous to
them. Train is now waiting at Brown to
take battalion % h Infantry to Fort heno
Okla. We strongly recommend that bat
TALON take accused men with it to San
Antonio and turn them over to military
authorities there, to be confined and
guarded until they can be turned over to
civil authorities safely. Battalion to pro-
coed to Fort Reno Immediately upon de-
liVerng prisoners at San Antonio. Please
get Presidents decision at earliest possible
moment and rush answer to this, as train
is waiting at Fort Brown and battalion
ready to embark In resent excited state
feeling in Brownsville further ue.ay in
movement may make trouble
The President approved the plan sus
gested and in notifying the commanding
officer at Fort Brown of the arrangement,
the military secretary said:
This movement of accused men should
not be announced in advance, and should
be made so as to avoid attracting attention
or bringing conflict with civil authori-
ties. There is no intention of taking these
men beyond jurisdiction of state of Texas
or of withholding them from civil authori-
ties a moment beyond time when they can
be turned over safely. 1t is not believed
Sa fe to leave them at Fort Brown, as the
one company to be left there is Insufficient
to do work of shipping property and sup
plies and at same time guard prisoners so
as to prevent their escape or protect them
if need be- The President himself directs
the action herein ordered. Make movement
quietly and discreetly. By all means avoid
conflict if possible, but that accused
men and battalion are protected from vo-
lence during movement