Richmond planet., 1907-02-23
NO "CONSPIRACY OF 81
LENCE," AND NO EVI-
DENCE TO SUSTAIN
THE DARLINGTON RE
PORT.

Washington Post. Feb. IA. 1901
The examination OF former mem
bers of Company c OF the Twenty
fifth Infantry was begun yesterday
before the Senate Committee on Mi
itary Affairs which is investigating
the Brownsville ARRAY. The first
witness was former Corporal Chas
II. Madison. He old of the absence
of the nOncommissioned officer hav-
ing charge OF the Company c gun
racks and said that an order was is
sued by Maj. Penrose TO break open
the racks II the guns could not be
had in any other way.
Madison said that one rack was
opened by Sergt. Brawner. but that
all OF the racks were being pound
ed by the men in an effort TO get
them opened when the call 10 arms
was sounded. No lights were al
lowed. he said, because it was
thought an attack was being made
on the garrison. He thought IL
might be difficult TO tell In the dark
whether the racks were unlocked or
not.
Madison testified that IT was Pri-
Yates Reed and Newton, OF his COM
pany. who had the trouble with cit
liens of Brownsville. which is said
to have engendered ill-feeling be-
tween the citizens and Negro SOL
diers. He told also of having seen
signs posted on saloons giving no.
tice to the Negro soldiers that they
would not be served.
Former Quartermaster Sergeant
McMurray. of Company c. testified
that after Mai. Penrose had given
orders that the gun -acks SHOULD be
broken open the company cook Sc
cured an AK and chopped the racks.
McMurray said he warned the man
not TO injure the guns, but that it
was dark and some of the rifles
were injured.
Newton Carlisle, a former Compa
ny c sergeant, corroborated tne tes-
tiniony about the use of an ak on
the racks.
The proceedings have come to be
rather tedious, and the members OF
the committee take little interest
Senator Pettus fell asleep yesterday
and had a restfui half-hour nap.
Once Senator Warner, in swinging
about Ia his chair, accidently kicked
the Alabama Senator on the shins
and he aroused as quickly as If
there had been a call to arms. When
he saw that everything was moving
along smoothly, he doZed on again
into slumber, which was not dis
turbed until the committee adjourn
ed. Senator Scott accused Senator
Overman OF reposing in the arms OF
Morpheus, but this the North Car
Gilman Indignantly denied, declar-
ing that ne only had his eyes
closed"
washington Post, Feb. IS. 1901
Confusion in the barracks of Com
pany c, at Brownsville, Tex, on the
night of August 13. and the break
ing Of the gun racks were accounted
for before the Senate Committee on
Military Affairs, by the testimony of
Samuel c. Harley, who was acting
first sergeant at that time. He said
he was awakened by the confusion
and the firing of guns after the call
20 arms had been sounded and that
he had not issued orders TO the men
to get their guns until he had con-
suited with Lieut.. Grier. He told
of hearing later the pounding on
the racks and of noting, at the time
the rifles were sent for repairs. the
damage that had been done.
Concerning the ammunition N
the possession of members of Com
pany C., OF which Corporal Madison
had previously testified, he said he
heard one of the non-commissioned
officers say the men might as well
have clubs as rifles on account OF
the character of their ammunition.
The cartridges, 1t was said. were of