The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-01-15
ROOSEVELT
is DEFIANT
Continued from First Page.)

did not actually see the men who were
doing the shooting. About twenty-five
other witnesses gave testimony cor
roborating TO greater or less degree
the testimony Of those who thus saw
the shooters or heard them. The testl'
mony of these eye and ear witnesses
would establish beyond all possibility
of contradiction the fact that the shoot
ing was committed by ten or fifteen or
more of the negro troops from the gar
rison. aud this testimony OF theirs
would be amply sufficient In itself II
not u cartridge or bullet had been
found. exactly as the bullets and car
trldges that were found would have
established the guilt OF the troops even
had not Il single eyewitness seen them
or other witness heard them.
"The testimony OF the witnesses and
the position OF the bullet holes show
that fifteen oi twenty Of the negro
troops gathered inside the fort ana
that the first shots fired into the town
were fired from within the fort, some
OF them at least from the upper gal
lerles OF the barracks.
THE testimony further shows that
the troops then came ont over the
walls. some OF them perhaps going
through the gate. and advanced dis
lance OF 800 yards or. Whereabouts Into
the town. During their advance they
shot into two hotels and some nine or
ten other houses. Three Of the private
houses into which they fired contained
women and children. They deliberate
~ killed Frank Natus. bartender,
shooting him down from distance Of
about fifteen yards. Shey shot at u
man and woman. Mr.. ana Mrs. Odin.
and their little boy rs they stood In the
window OF the Miller hotel the bullet
going less than two inches from the
head OF the woman. They shot down
the lieutenant OF police. who was ON
horseback. killing his horse and wound
Ing him 80 that his arm had to he am.
putated. They attempted 10 Nil the
two policemen who were his compan'
Ions. shooting one through the hat.
They shot nj least eight bullets into
the Cowen house. putting out lighted
lamp on the dining room table. Mrs.
Cowcn and her five children were In
the house. They NJ once threw them
selves prone ON the door and were not
hit They fired into the Starck house
the bullets going through the mosquito
har OF bed from eighteen % twenty
inches above where little children were
sleeping There was a light In the chill
dren's room.
The shooting took place near mid
night. The panic caused 10y the utterly
unexpected attack was great The
darkness. Of course. Increased the con
fusion. There l. conflict Of testimony
On some 81 the minor points. but ever
essential point J. established beyond
possibility of honest question.
The additional evidence thus taken
renders II In my opinion impossible is
question the conclusions upon which
my orlcr was hisrd have gnnc mosl
carefully over every issue ~ law ana
fact that has bs-cn raised. am nov
satisfied that the effect 81 my order
dismi-slng these men without hOnol
was not 10 liar them from all civil cm
ployment under the government AND
therefore that the part 81 the order
which consisted ~ n declaration 10 thI'
cffc,t was lacking In validity. and
have directed that su,h portion b. ~
vokcd A. a. the rest 81 the order
dlsmlssing the individuals In question
without honor and drrlaring the cTccl
n such discharge under the law and
regulations 10 be- bar ~ their fuiur
re-enlistmcni either IN the army 90 a.,
navy. there l. u1 doubt 81 my consii
tutional and legal power. The or,lei
was within my discretion under ih'
constitution aud the laws aud canno
be- reviewed or reversed save by an
other executive order. The facts dh
not merely warrant the action ! took
they rendered such action imperative
unless I was 20 prove false 10 M,
sworn duty.
ne any one ~ the men discharges
hereafter shows a. my satisfaction thai
he i clear of guilt or of shielding to-
guilty I will take what action j. war
rantcd. hut the circumstances I have
above detailed most ccrtainly put upof
any such man the burden u thus clear
Ing himself"