The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-19
DIRECT CONFLICT
As TO SHOOTING.
White Soldier and Negro En-
Soldier Tell Different Stories
as to Incidents.
STARTED AWAY FROM TOWN
This the Statement OF Private
Nolan, Who Is Confirmed by
Sergeant Altman.
STARTED AWAY FROM TOWN

WASHINGTON, d. c., February 49,
Witnesses In the Brownsville hearing
to- day testified that the shooting began
in the rear Of the commissary, away
from the town, and continued around
the road and into the town while the
call to arms was being sounded. The
Committee on Military Affairs heard a
great deal of contradictory testimony.
the value Of which must be deter
mined by other witnesses. AS to GER
tain incidents, 1t was white soldier
against negro ex-soldier.
Senator Foraker called Hoyt Robin
son, formerly of Company D. who was
musician OF the guard. and sounded
me cal to arms on the night OF Aug
nst 18th He said the firing con-
tinued for about fifteen minutes aftar
the call ceased. He thought the man
i1rlnE the shots were stationed In the
toWn. near the gate into the mllitarv
.sseI tlon. He did not hear any shots,
pa'9ins over the guard-house.
Shot Toward Town.
IMAM c. Nolan, private Of the
nrss class in the Hospital Corps, a white
soldier who had been stationed Mt Fort
Brown FOR two years prior to the arrival
OF tho negro soldiers, said that he was
az the hospital when the shooting began,
800 49, oS'"''No Sail4iidIla Auu SanDOrn md
three Or four patients. The first shot
he thought, came from the rear or thn
commlssary. back of tho hospital and
not from the direction Of the town. He
said he paid no attention to that, but
In a few minutes there wero three more
shots. and then five shots which, he
said. sounded as II tho men firing were
moving around the road. He heard no
bullets. nor saw any flashu, from guns.
He thought the fort was being attacked,
but he would not be certain that the
shooters were ouside or within the mill
tary enclosure.
Nolan said that n few nights before
the shooting Private Newton, Il negro
soldier, came to the hospital for treat
ment. His face was badly bruised. and
Nolan asked him how he was injured. AS
cordlng to Nolan's story, Newton said
that he was In town and that man
knocked him down with the butt of his
six-shooter without reason. Nolan told
the man 1t was funny lie did not
know the reason for the assault and
Newton insisted that he did not. Nolan
said Newton then said: well, that's the
way it was. but we'll fix the = - =. -
yet"
On cross-examinatlon Nolan said that
there was only one call to arms and
that was sounded by the musician at the
gtlardhouse. and twenty-five to thirty
minutes elapsed between the first shot
and the call to arms
Threatened to Kill All.
William Harden, negro ex-privntc
soldier, said that he was In the hospital
conralescent on August 13th ana that
lie had been given permission to 90 10
the post exchange to buy an apple pic
While coming back he said he almost
ran into Major Penrose. Mayor Mccomb
and another man, walking toward tho
hospital He said he stepped back to
let them pass. and they stopped and be-
gan to talk Tho strange man. accord
Ing to Harden. said: ~ tell you Texas
won't stand FOR IT, He then said some
thing about an assault upon his wife,
and n.lded; III some soldiers arc not
put under arrest by 10 o'clock Tonight
we'1t XIII every damned negro soldier
In Fort Brown"
Harden said he lodged into the hos
pltal and heard nothing more His tes-
timony differed greatly from that given
by Nolan. SO far as the location OF the
llrIng Is concerned there was not much
difference, but he said that a number
of shots passed oyer the hospital
Sergeant Altman, OF the Hospital corps,
also a white soldier. corroboratcd Nolan.