Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-06-12
NEWTON AND L|PSCOMB
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
Both Denied That They Had Given
Any Affront to Mrs. Tate. Wife Of
the Inspector. Who Knocked Down
the First Named

Washington. June 11.-James w.
Newton. who was knocked down by
customhouse inspector at Brownsville
by n blow on his head. with a six.
shooter. short time before the town
was ''shot-up." and i. J. Lipscomb.
who accompanied him on that
occasion. were both before the senate
committee on military affairs Monday
afternoon. Newton and Lipscomb
were members OF Company c. Twenty.
fifth infantry. and Newton. was one OF
the twelve men who we're placed under
arrest and held at San Antonio under
suspicion OF having been implicated in
the shooting up" OF the town.
Both witnesses denied that they
had given any affront 20 Mrs. Tate.
wife Of the inspector who Knocked
Newton down. and said they were
quietly passing along the sidewalk
when attacked. Both denied that they
heard any expressions OF resentment
over the affair afterwards and said II
had been allowed TO drop as fas as they
were concerned after Il had been re-
ported TO Major Penrose, who said he
would investigate II and punish the
offenders.
Newton and Lipscomb were subject.
ed To a severe cross-examination By
several members OF the committee.
Asked by Senator Taliaferro whether
II he had done the shooting he would
plead falsely TO conceal Il, Newton re.
piled:
Yes sir. did II myself"
He admitted that any soldier could
get out OF the barracks enclosure into
the town without being seen n he
wanted TO do so.
He heard shooting on the night of
Aug. ~. but could not tell In the ex.
element whether II was by guns of
pistols.
Asked by Senator Foraker II he had
ever sworr falsely In his testimony In
this case. he replied that he had not.
He was questioned about his record in
the army. he having been fined 50 on
one occasion and 81 three other times
for minor breaches OF discipline. Alex.
ander J. Levie. who vas first sergeant
OF Company l.. Twenty.fifth infantry.
at the time Il was ordered from
Brownsville. on the arrival of the ne
gro troops. also testified at Mondays
session. Levie stated that he heard
conversations on the streets In Browns.
vile showing that he heard CONVEX
sations on the streets In Brownsville
showing that a strong feeling existed |
among citizens against the negro sold.
iers being ordered there. He heard |
one old gentleman. whose name he
afterwards learned was MsDonough, |
say: The first crooked move they
make We will snnihilate the whole |
shooting match"
He was questioned concerning the
length OF time required TO properly !
clean a modern Springfield rifle. The
rifles sent TO the committee room from
the war department were placed before
him. Both OF these rifles had been !
fired and one OF them Gen. Darlington |
testified had been cleaned In one min. |
ute The other had been uncleaned. !
The witness said that neither OF them !
would pass inspection.
A communication from General Gar
iington was presented 10 the commit. |
tee stating that 2.456 enlisted men are
on the retired list OF the army. all hav.
Ing served more than thirty years
with good records. This information !
had been called 10 meet the J
claim Of Senator Foraker that Mingo !
Sanders record OF twenty-six years
service without an unfavorable record
was exceptional. Senator Foraker said
he would write to the war department
and ask whether any OF the 2.456 men
on the retired list has served without
a single reprimand. as was the case
with Sanders.