The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-02-14
NEGRO WITNESSES
Swear That White Men Shot
Up Town Of Brownsville.
ALLEGE PLOT BY WHITES
Discharged Negro Soldiers Tell Queer
Tale Before Senate investigating
Committee - Senator Foraker
Called Down by Member.

Called Down by Member.
A Washington special Gays: The
senate committee on military affairs
began it's third day Of the Browns
Vile hearing at 10:3O "Wednesday. Ja-
cob D. Frazier, former first sergeant
of company D, twenty-ffth infantry.
was called to the stand. Senator For.4
aker conducted 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.
Frazier testified that he, with other
married soldiers, was permitted to live
outside the post quarters and was at {
home with his family on the night OF
August 13 when the firing in Browns
Vile occurred. He was awakened by
two shots. On his way to the quar-
ters he heard the general fusilade. He
described the call 60 arms and the roll
call, which was ordered by Captain
Lyons, and he said he found every
man present or accounted for.
Frazier testified that each man was
allowed twenty rounds Of ammunition.
ten Of which were carried in a belt
and ten in q cartridge box. The cart
ridge boxes were not carried during
the inspection next day, but were LETT
at quarters About two days after
the trouble all ammunition was turn
ed In, and all was properly accounted
for. Asked II he had anything TO do
with the trouble, Frazier answered
no, and said he didn't know. Of any
other member of his company being
engaged IL It. He had withheld no M
formation and declared there was NO
conspiracy Of silence. III
Senator Warner crossexamined tho
witness. Frazier had believed, he sai.i,s
that some of the soldiers had shoe
up" the town, but the opinion was
based on the fact that his company
commander had so told him; he had
never heard any Of the soldiers admit
it. He had talked with many OF the
men, aud said he had talked one way,
to them In order that they might talk;
the other way" and so find out who
did the shooting.
Frazier stated 1t 2s his belief thatS
the citizens of Brownsville had them
selves "shot up. the Gown to drive
the soldiers away. Mr.. oyerman said:E
do you think the citizens would Kill
one Of their own number and commit
murder to get you away?p :s
Frazier 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 their
money" !;
With reference to the contention
that the citizens of Brownsville were
disguised as soldiers, the fact was I
brought ont that the witness had tes-g
tilted in former hearing that the cit-
izens might have procured discarded
caps and uniforms from. soldiers Who
had been there before them. He said
ut this time, however, that all men in {
the twenty-hfth infantry wore hats.
Jerry e. Reeves, former sergeant OF
company D, said that on the night OF
the trouble he was awakened by shots
which appeared to be In the direction
Of the quarters Of company B. he
could not state who did: the shoot
ing and said he had never been able
to get any information from mem
bers of company D. He knew nothss
ing Of any conspiracy Of silence and
did not believe any of the soldiers
were implicated in the affray.
Senator Oyerman asked: Gould the
citizens of Brownsville get any Spring
field ride cartridges?" and Reeves re-
piled: mo" -