The Washington times., 1907-03-19
BROWNSVILLE QUIZ
HALTS FOR WANT
OF WITNESSES

Lack of witnesses whose testimony
Senator Foraker deems essential TO the
establishment of the innocence OF col
Ored soldiers stationed in Brownsville
last August. necessitated an adjourn
ment Of the Senate Committee on Mill
tary Affairs after an hours session this
morning The committee will recon
vene tomorrow morning at II o'clock. by
which time it is thought one or several
witnesses will have arrived in Washing
ton.
When the committee convened this
morning Senator Foraker announced
that the witnesses he had intended in
terrOgating here today were under sub
poena to remain at the PenrOse court
martial until the proceedings had been
terminated.
Immediately before adjournment Sen
atOr Warren, chairman Of the commit
tee. handed Senator Foraker a telegram
branding the alleged confession OF Pri-
Vate D. c Gray as a fake Senator
Foraker forthwith had the missive
placed in the record
Senator Foraker said he wished TO
have placed in the record the testimony
of Lieut.. George Q. LawrasOn, who was
IN command of Company B. Twenty
fifth Infantry, on the niSnt Of the shoot
ing up of Brownsville He said he de-
sired this SO as 10 be in a position to
CrosS-eXamine Lieutenant LawraSOn on
the latter's testimony at the court
martial of Captain Mackall at Fort Sam
Houston, Tex.
Senator Curtis objected, saying he
thought the testimony of all the wit
nesses should go in the record if Lieu
tenant Lawrason's went into it. Il OBJ
ject to any part Of q document going
in Let it all go in" said the Senator.
Heard Hearsay Testimony.
This is not a strictly legal proceed
ing" said Senator Foraker.
II know that" said Senator Curtis
I'VE heard testimony here four times
over hearsay."
Senator Foraker said: This report
from the Secretary OF War yesterday,
which contains the results OF the mi
CrOsCopic investigation conducted by the
Government representatives. affects
Company B. OF which Lieutenant Law
rason was acting commander. and I
want to CrOss-eXamine him so as 10 re-
but what is set forth in the report -
Senator Curtis position was undisturb-
ed. He continued 10 object to the in
PRODUCTION OF part of a document At
the suggestion OF Senator Warner. Sena-
tor Foraker decided TO let the matter
rest until the day Lieutenant Lawra-
son is called to testify before the COM
mittee Senator Foraker stated that all
the officers he wanted TO call were tied
UP at the Penrose court-martial and
he was unable TO ascertain when the
proceedings would eliminate.
Senator Overman percipitated a spirit
ed discussion by unwittingly referring
TO Senator Foraker as the prosecution
He asked when will the prosecution
finish2F
Am / 10 understand you as referring
10 me as the prosecutor asked Sena-
tor Foraker. with some heat.
L believe you have the affirmative
here" said Senator Overman.
ALL the Senators finally agreed that
Senator Foraker had the negative, but
occupied the unique position OF present.
ing the negative side before the affirm
ative had been heard.
You're trying 10 prove these soldiers
innocent. aren't your asked Senator
Overman of Senator Foraker
And you're irving TO prove them
guilty. aren't you?" retOrted the Sen
ator from Ohio.
No; like the rest OF the committee. I
am simply here to ascertain the facts
surrounding the affray. AS / under
stand H. an issue is presented here. and
we are to get all the facts, said Sen
ator Overman.