Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-02-07
Former First Sergeant of COL
ored Infantry Gives His
Views on Brownsville ARRAY
Before Senate Committee,
DENIES CONSPIRACY
OF SILENCE EXISTS
Men Missing From Roll Call
Following Shooting Unac-
counted for--ConfIict DeyeI-
ops in Testimony,

IBy Morning journal Special Leased Wlre.l
Washington, Feb. 6.--Jacob ID. Fra
zer. former first sergeant of company
D, Twenty infantry, testified be-
fore the senate committee on military
affairs today that he had nothing II
do with the shooting up" of Browns
vile and knew of no other member of
his company being engaged in it. Nor
did he believe that any members OF
his company were in the affraV. He
had withheld no Information and he
declared that there was no conspiracy
of silence.
He stated it as his belief that the
citizens of Brownsville had them
selves "shot up" the town to drive
the soldiers away.
Mr. OVerman asked;
Do you think citizens would kill
one of their own number-commit
murder to get you away"
Frazer replied:
Il don't know whether anyone was
killed. they wanted US away. Colored
men would spend little money in the
saloons on account of their treatment
and the citizens of Brownsville wanted
white soldiers who would spend their
money"
At the afternoon session the testi-
mony of former Sergeant Frazer was
resumed. Frazer said that on his way
TO he barracks during the fusilade in
= he a'feels he heard so-teolo a"s:
Cease firing
Frazer was Of the opinion that the
inspection was made about 1:10 a. m.
whereas Harris placed the time at
6:15.
senator Overman questioned the
witness regarding the whereabouts OF
men not at roll cali and unaccOunted
for. but Frazer could give no direct
testimony on that 9oint. lie stated
that his zeal i'm trying TO tind out Sc
Cretly" who did the shooting was due
to his desire to protect his own army
record and he presented letter from
Captain Lyons of company ID, certi-
fying to his excellent character ana
recommended that he be permitted TO
re-enlist He stated that az tn pis-
tolls of the men We're in the quarter
masters storehOuse on the night of
the shooting.
Charles Dade. former cook Of COM
pany y. testified thtt the McKeiver
belts and boxes were carried out by
the men at the inspection on the morn
ing after the shooting. Frazer had
previously stated that these boxes
were not worn at that inspection.
Gerry +. Reeves former sergeant Of /
company d, said that on the night of
the trouble he was awakened bN shots |
which appeared TO be in the direction /
of the quarters of companies b and |
G. He was positive that his com
pany wore web belts at the inspection /
and that the McKeiver boxes were in /
Shortly after inspection Wit I
MSS stated that the guns were still left |
i'm their care, He knew nothing OF I
any conspiracy Of silence.
Senator OVerman asked: could the /
citizens Of Brownsville get any Spring /
field cartridges ?' and Reeves re-
Piled:
NO"
The witness when asked about the
gun inspection stated that the cooks
gun was the only one that was not
thoroughly clean. but that Cobwebs
We're found i'm il.
Reeves said that Major Pcnrose had
ordered every non-commissIOned Off
Ger TO md out who did the shooting
The examination of Reeves was mt
concluded when the committee ad-
iourned until tomorrow.