The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-07
FORAKER is OVER
ANXIOUS IN WORK
Questionable Politician from
Ohio is Accused of "Lead-
ing" Witnesses
BROWNSVILLE. HEARING ON
cOLORED SOLDIERS GET THEIR
TESTIMONY SOMEWHAT MIXED
-PREJUDIcE ALLEGED IN RE-
GARD TO NEGRO TROOPS.
Publishers Press.1

Washington, reb. 6.-When the SEN
sumed its Brownsville hearing, former
Sergeant Israel Harris having con-
cluded his testimony, was permitted
TO return to his home in Boston. He
was succeeded by Jacob d. Fraser,
former first sergeant of company D,
18th infantry. Senator Foraker con-
Quoted the examination, and he had
not proceeded far when his methods
were challenged by Senator Pettus,
who declared that the Ohio senator
was leading" the witness.
Fraser testified that he is married
and with other married soldiers was
permitted to live outside the post
quarters. He said he was at home
with his family when the firing in
Brownsville occurred and was awak
ened by two shots. On his way to the
quarters he heard the general fusillade
which appeared to be near B and d
company quarters. He described the
call to arms and the roll call by Cap
tain Lyons, and said every man was
present or accounted for. In detail
ing the actions of the company after
roll call, Fraser told of the company's
marching through the town after the
general shooting occurred and of it's
return to the barracks, where the guns
were ordered locked in the racks and
the men ordered to quarters until the
reveille at 6 As a. m. Aug. IA. He then
described in detail the inspection of
arms by Captain Lyons.
Fraser testified that each man was
allowed 20 rounds of ammunition, ten
OF which were carried in a belt and
ten in a cartridge box. The cart
ridge boxes were not carried during
the inspection.
About two days after the trouble,
all ammunition was ordered turned in,
and all was properly accounted for.
Asked il he had anything to do woth
the trouble Fraser answered no, and
said he did not know of any other
member of his company being engaged
in it. Nor did he believe members of !
his company were in the ARRAY. He /
said he withheld no information and |
declared there was no conspiracy of |
silence.
created much amusement in relating
an account of his capture in the Phil
ippines of bandit who terrorized the
constabulary. Indeed, he said, the
bandit previously ran the chief of the
constabulary out of his own quarters
and installed himself there.
Senator Warner cross-examined the
witness. He believed, he said, that
some of the soldiers shot up the /
town, but the opinion was based on
the fact that his company commander +
told him so. He never heard any of
the soldiers admit it. He talked with
many many of the men and said he
talked one way" to them in order
that they might talk the other way
and find out who did the shooting. Il
acted very secretly said he, ito find
out about it,
Fraser said he heard Of previous
trouble with colored soldiers in Texas,
but knew of nothing fierce" about
them. He stated his belief that citi-
zens of Brownsville themselves "shot
up the town to drive the soldiers
away.
Mr.. Overman asked: do you think
citizens would kill one of their own
number in order to get you away"
Fraser replied: Il don't know whether
any one was killed; they wanted us
away. Colored men would spend very
little money in the saloons on account
of their treatment, and the citizens
of Brownsville wanted white soldiers.
who would spend the money
In further explanation of his theory
that the citizens did the shooting wit
ness said 1t was possible for citizens
to get ammunition from the soldiers
He contended that the men were no.
allowed out of the barracks after s
o'clock at night because of an insult
alleged to have been offered two col
ored soldiers to white women just pre-
vious to the shooting.
With reference to the contention
that the citizens of Brownsville were
disguised as soldiers the fact was
brought out that witness testified in
a former hearing that the citizens
might have procured discarded cap
and un forms from soldiers who were
there before them. He said however
that all men in the 25th wore hats. In
describing the cleaning of a gun for
inspection Fraser stated that it takes
from half an hour to 40 minutes. Har-
ris previously testified that it takes
about 10 minutes.