Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-11
NSV|LLE CASE
Attorney Purdy and Maj. Block
som Have Returned.
TESTIMONY UNDER OATH
Practically Repetition Of Citizens
Committee Work.
TO GO TO SENATE MONDAY
President to Make Important Conces-
sion in Regard to Discharged Sol
TO GO TO SENATE MONDAY

| Mr.. Purdy, assistant to the Attorney Cen
| eral, and Maj. Blocksom of the army have
returned to this city from visit to Browns
vile and other towns in Texas, which was
made for the avowed purpose of obtaining
| legal evidence to show that the midnight
! raid on Brownsville August 13 was made
by soldiers of the 18th (colD Infantry and
by no one else. The principal evidence on
| which Maj. Blocksom and Gen. Darlington
| based their reports of the affair and on
| which the President acted, was taken by a
| committee of citizens of Brownsville shortly
| after the occurrence, but the witnesses
amined were not sworn.
Witnesses Examined Under Oath.
The main purpose of the visit to Texas
Of Mr.. Purdy and Maj Blocksom just con-
| Guided was to remedy that error. They,
| therefore, re-examined, under oath, all the
| witnesses previously examined by the COM
mittee, as we'll as number Of other per-
| sons claiming to have information regard
| Ing the raid. Although it is declared that
| legal forms and practices were strictly OBJ
served in the conduct of the Purdy inquiry,
| 1t is admitted that none of the accused
represented either in person or by counsel
at any stage of the proceedings. The
| character and result of the inquiry will
not be made public until it is submitted to
the Senate.
It is known. however, that the testimony
taken under oath was practically a repe
titon of the unsworn testimony previously
| taken by the citizens committee, and to
| that extent strengthens the position of the
| president and the army inspectors that the
| raid must have been the work of colored
soldiers. 1t is understood that considerable
evidence was taken to establish the claim
| that all the cartridges fired on that event
| full night came from the army rifle of the
| latest model and that no one but the SOL
diers had such articles in their possession
| in Brownsville at that time All the
| bullet holes in houses, fences etc, any
| where in the vicinity of the raid were
| carefully examined and photographed and
all the bullets and clips said to have been
| found on the scene were turned over to the
| Purdy commission. There is no doubt
about the clips and shells being of govern
| ment issue, but there is a serious dispute
| as to how they got into the possession of
| the brownsville people.
President to Send to Senate Monday.
Messrs. Purdy and Blocksom have had
several long conferences with Secretary
Taft regarding the preparation of their re-
| port, including all the evidence taken, and
| 1t Is said that the President will transmit
| 1t to the Senate next Monday, with mes
| sage giving his views at length on the sub
| Ject. 1t Is now generally understood that
| the President will make important conces-
| slons in regard to the 100 discharged SOL
| diers. 1t is expected that he will inform
| the Senate of his willingness to permit the
| re-enliStment of those soldiers who can sat-
| isfy him of their innocence of participation
| In or knowledge of the midnight raid and
| also of the withdrawal of that portion of
| the sentence of discharge which barred
| them forever from service under the gov
| eminent.
Many senators, including several from
southern states, have expressed the opinion
| that the President exceeded his constitu-
! tional power In barring the men from fur
| ther service under the government, and to
| secure their support, it is said, the Presi-
| dent will formally withdraw that portion
| OF the order for the discharge of the SOL
| diers.
Conferences With the President.
| Senators Lodge and Spooner the two
| principal senatorial defenders of the Presi-
| dent in connection with the Brownsville
| affair, were in conference with the Presi-
dent this morning and FASTENED away to
| the senate in an automobile The mes
| sage OIL the President conveying the addi-
| tional testimony that has been secured by
| Milton D. Purdy, assistant attorney gen
eral, Will go to the Senate Monday. The
| facts that will be presented are regarded
! by administration officials as of the utmost
| Importance in sustaining the chief eXecu-
| tive in his action.
| 1t could not be learned from the Senators
| looking after the administration side of
| the question whether an effort will be made
| 10 postpone vote on the Foraker resou-
| tlon until after the receipt of the message
| from the President. Despite the fact that
| Senator Foraker is pressing for a vote on
| his resolution, some of the senators who
| hold different views from him are inclined
| to the opinion that it will be much better
| to delay the vote on his resolution until
| after the mass of Purdy- acquired testimony
has been laid before the Senate
| Some of those who have been entertained
| with extracts from the Purdy documents
| profess to believe that they will make an
| impression upon the public that will great
| ly offset the effects of the passage of the
| Foraker resolution
| Mr.. Purdy himself saw the President Or
| few minutes during the cabinet meeting
| 1t was his first personal visit to the chief
| executive since his return from Texas yes
| terday afternoon. Mr. Purdy, with a staff
| of stenographers, is busy getting the tes-
| timony taken by him in shape for the print
ers. He was not sent to Brownsville to
| make report to the President and the
| Presidents message will not contain any
| expression Of opinion from Mr.. Purdy It
| Will simply contain the facts as gathered
| by the latter. Many of the statements of
| witnesses were forwarded by Mr. Purdy
as soon as obtained by him, but there were
| number of others left for preparation
| on arriving in Washington.
| 1t Is presumed that all the matter will
| be placed In the hands of the public print
! er by tomorrow afternoon. AS the docu-
| ment is desired as quickly as possible it
| is assumed that the government printing
| Office will put on a rush force.