Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-04-13
MAJOR PENROSE DE
CLARES SOLDIERS
NOT GUILTY.

MI " O1L
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.
Ehots could not have been fred from
the barracks.
While IN Brownsville last October
Lieut. Leckie visited Crixwell's sa-
loon, on Elizabeth street, and the
proprietor pointed out to him a bull
let hole in the wooden awning,
which he said had been made by a
bullet fred on the night OF August
g by soldiers. Leckie said he told
Crixwell that he was mistaken, as
the hole had been made by a "A or
As caliber bullet. The argument
which followed resulted in digging
out the bullet when proved TO be a
large caliber lead bullet, which was
not Of the type used in the Spring
field gun.
During his visit to Brownsville
Lieut.. Leckie was instructed TO in
vestigate the arrest and imprison-
ment OF Allison, a former Negro sol
der, who started the saloon for Ne
Eroes after the arrival IN Fort Brown
OF the black battalion. He saw Al
lison, who had been In Jail since last
September charged with assault with
intent 10 commit murder upon a Ne
gro brakeman. He then saw the
Negro brakeman, who denied that he
had been assaulted and said there
was no foundation for the charges
made against Allison.
N JAIL TO KEEP SILENCE.
Lieut.. Leckie said Allison told
MIN that he believed be was in fail
so that he could not testify in the
investigation now being conducted.
Allison is stiu in Jail. and will not
be tried until next September.
Iaking mp the evidence concern
Ing the finding OF bullet holes IN sew
eral houses in Brownsville. the wit
ness declared that all OF the twenty
shots which struck the Cowan mouse
were fred into the house from the
rear, but he was certain none of
them could have been fired from the
barracks. He said the same was
true concerning the two bullet holes
IN the Cara house. He also gave
MS judgment concerning the posi-
tions occupied by men doing the nr-
ing OF SHOTS which struck the Mar
uhe@ mouse, the Western Union Tel
ograph Office and the Miller Hotel
Most Of the bullet holes examined
by Lieut. Lcckie were made bv 2O-
caiber ammunition. he said. At the
conclusion OF MS direct examination
senator Warner asked that the testi-
mony be printed before he cross-ex-
amined the witness.
oscar j. Ma.locS, a clerk IN the
quartermast rs department. corro-
borated the testimony OF I.eckie con
corning the finding OF the bullet AT
CriXwell's saloon.
Sergt. Norman McIver, of Comm
ny Il Twenty-sixth Infantry. wbic5
was at Brownsville previous TO tbe
Negro soldiers, testified that 40 aod
heard that two privates named Case
and Wall, OF Company X. nad sold
loO rounds OF ammunition TO n man
IN brownsville three DAYS prior 10
me departure OF the Twentv-sIxtb
infantry but the witness could NOT
loenuIy the purchaser, nor could he
say Where either Case or Wall coulrl
now be found. both having left the
Washington Post. Apru r 1en7 7
After Maj. Charles " perro,,i
who was commander OF the Negro
troops at Brownsville. completed HE
testimony yesterday, the Senate Co..
mlttee on Military Affairs evan
lhed Two OF the officers Who made
tests at Fort Mcintosh to determine
"hetner II was possible to iistin-
sulsh between white. Negro and
mexican soldiers wearing uniforms
On moonlight or starlight nigats
Inc conclusion OF these officers v,ss
that such a thing is impossible. Toev
asserted that In making their tests
tney made the conditions as near as
possible like the conditions were said
70 De at Brownsville on the night Of
the shooting. Va
MAJ Penrose having testified
wednesday that on the morning. fol-
lowing the shooting he believed his
men were guilty but that ne was now
convinced they were innocent. was
asked:
BELIEVES SOLDIERS INNOCENT
When did you change your opip-
ION on the question OF whether your
shooting?"
AT about the conclusion NJ NV
court-martial two weeks ago" "a,
piled Maj. Penrose.
state what fact caused him 10 reac:,
the belief that his men were limo
cent the major said that few Wit
nesses had been able to state 20 his
satisfaction that they had seen SOL
diers In town during the shooting.
ne said That witnesses attempted to
tel distances at which they recog-
nlzeo soldiers and distinguishesi mn
HORNED men. which ne declared 10
De absolutely impossible on that
night, as II was very dark. The ma
1or added to this explanation that
MS mind had been undergoing a
cnange for some time before.
In reply to a question by Senator
Scott, the major said that ne could
conceive of no motive for Negro SOL
diers to shoot up" the town, and
then replying to a question by SEN
ator Warner. ne said neither could
ne conceive of a motive for citizens
NY Cnrftf -