New-York tribune., 1907-03-15
BROWNSVILLE BULLETS.
ETpert Testimony To Be Important
Part of InUeShgatiOn.

washington Ma ch lA-Expert testimony con-
cerning ammunition and guns Will be given before
the Senate Committee Military Affairs within a
Few days, perhaps tomorrow This VIII include a
report OF the results OF the microscopic examina-
ton OF the bullets extracted from the walls OF
houses n Brownsville and the cartridges picked I'D
IN the streets there From these reports It is ex-
pecued the committee Will be able 10 form an
opinion to whether the bullets found were fred
from guns IN the hands OF Negro soldiers or citi-
gems had obtained army ammunition and fired il
from rifles OF another make. This is regarded as
by far the most important evidence the COMMITTEES
now has IN view.
Several days ago the committee returned TO the
War Department the exhibits OF bullets and car
idges sent TO the Senate by the President In con
nection with The investigation made by Assistant
Attorney General Purdy. Yesterday the committee
again called for these exhibits which consist OF
thirty-three shells and six bali cartridges and to-
DAY two letters were received from Secretary Taft
The frHt said that he had sent the exhibits 10 the
arsenal at Springfield for microscopic examination
Ae estimated that IL would require about q week
20 get the exhibits back. with q report but the
second letter reports later adVices that the ex-
animation OF the shells Was 70 be completed To-day
and thar the officer CONDUCTING the evar1iya -
had been directed 10 bring The SHELLS and ball car
uidges together with fnal report OF his whole
''The report frut submitted" says the Secretary,
stated what believed and what the officers be-
ieved 20 be correct conclusions but tho inyestiga-
tons had not been as broad IN scope the oppor-
tunlty offered. and therefore directed q supple
mental or nnal report on the subject, which to-
j
be submitted you az the hands OF the officer
making the investigation at your meeting tO-rnor-
row II you desire 10 hear him and take this
matter up that time. II IS possible that the
ohcer VIII be delayed IN coming from Springfield
Until Saturday"
The witnesses testifying to-day were Nelson
Huron, a sergeant; Otis c. West, a private, and
John T. Rinnel. cook. all OF the 2eth Infantry.
which preceded the Negro troops at Fort Brown.
Their statements dealt largely with the character
of the people Brownsville and their hostility 10
soldiers and threats made against Negro soldiers
when they should arrive al Fort Brown
Huron testified that government ammunition was
bought AT saloon in Brownsville, and West tssti-
NED that he uniforms and banooliers the
pack pOrches Of the barracks and that MeXlcana
rummaged through these piles without hindrance
One day he met twelve-year-cld Mexican hoy
with hat partly filed with cartridges. The boy
showed him the cartridges, and when asked where
ne got them be pointed toward the barracks and
said: 7 going 20 take them downtown and
sci then 20 shoot 'nigsers' with" The witness
sac there other boys IN the party West said
mat strip about fifty miles wide and hun
cred miles long in the section in which Browns
slAe - situated seemed 70 be a dumping ground
To- tie lawless element but oa NINA ton
q" Senator Culberson admitted that he knew little
oI the character Of the towns in the section named