Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-06
Officers Change Opinions.


been following the proceedings very closely,
perhaps the most important development of
the investigation lies in the change of cpin-
ion o. the officers of the accused coored
battalion. These officers. many of whom
West Point graduates. al some of
whom have had extended careers in the
army with both white and colored troops,
believed from evidence b-litted to them
early on the morning of August u, follow
ing the shooting up of the town. that col
ored soldiers Were guilty of that crime.
They formed their belief upon the finding
of shells of the kind that were used their
new Springfield rifles scattered about the
streets in the vicinity of the scene of the
shooting which was located not only by
the evidence of witnesses. bat also by bull
let holes in houses and injury done To cit
liens by the firing.
In addition to that evidence which alone
had powerful effect upon their minds,
Mayer Combes in WHOM they had the ut
most confidence because Of Iheir acquaint-
ance With him and because he had served
in the army surgeon ami had de-
Veloped consTiC uous executive alb Lay in
handling uuruly elements in Brownsville.
believed that the shooting was done by
the colored soldiers. and ne presented to
them statements OF Il dozen people i'll
Brownsville to the effect that they had
recognized the marauders as colored SOL
Gicrs while the shooting was going on.
Mai. PenrOse was so thoroughly convinced
that the guilty men We're in his command
that he recommended the gradual discharge
of the entire body OF men, ~ per cent at
d time. the discharges to be a month apart
lie believed that by that heroic method
the men would be brought TO their senses
and that the silent ones would give evil
dence on their guilty comrades.
Opinion Influenced President.
The opinions of these officers We're adopted
by Gen. Darlington, Gen. Bell, Gen. Low
ering. Gen. McCaskey and others, who in
turn Influenced the President in the issuing
of his order Diminishing the entire battalion
without honor: but from the time the
officers of Companies b. and d OF
the Doth Infantry witnessed the severe
methods for smoking out the guilty men put
In force, change of their opinions COM
mcnced. InlS * according To the testi-
muny Of every one Of the officers who came
before the committee. When they saw the
old colOred veterans, some OF whom had
been IN the service for over a quarter of
a century without the least stain upon their
records. accept tucir discharges without
honor. without being able 10 save them
selves 10y giving information they began to
change their opinions 10 their guilt. Then
the Purdy investigation threw a great deal
of light upon tie subject. and finally the
Penrose court martial procec iines b.cuEht
out additional evidence. all of which was
carefully studied by these officers who
had had no opportunity II make any inves-
legation in tie town because they were con-
fined within the LINKS OF the barracks
grounds until ordered 70 Fort emo, where
tie battalion was discharged.
While the men We're nOt trial in the
Court-martial prugca dipgs. a great deal of
evidence was brought out there bearing on
their ease. with the result that il brought
the officers very close 10 the idea that the
men were moi guilty. Since then some OF
Tho evidence laid before the Senate com
nittee military affairs has confirmed
them in that belief. until today every one
OF them is either convinced that the colored
soldiers are innocent or they have at least
changed their minds that they are guilty
and are waiting for further light.
Experts Report.
Another important matter that has a
bearing on this subject is the report of
Lieut. Hawkins and Mr.. Spooner of the
Springfield arsenal on the shells found In
the streets of Brownsville on the morning
following the shooting These shells were
traced to four rifles that were in the pos
session Of Company B. and when that evil
dence was brought out it was regarded as
almost conclusive evidence of guilt of the
men.
garded it from the wording of his commu-
nication sent to the committee Transmitting
the report But the evidence of Lieut.. Law
rason and the quartermaster sergeant of
his company is uniform TO the effect that
they went to the storehouse on the night
of the 18th. after the shooting, and there
found in an arms chest with the lid screwed
down and resting under a pile of iron cots
one of the rifles which, the experts de-
clared. had fired some OF the empty shells
There has been no evidence to change the
fact that that rife was there and could not
have beer secured for the purpose of shoot
ing up the town.
An explanation Of how the experts may
be perfectly correct In their determination
of the rifles from which the bullets were
fred Is had from the fact that large box
OF empty shells that had been fred from
these rifles at target practice at Fort Mo
brara were taken to Fort Brown In box