The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-02-15
WHITES DID IT
SWEAR BLACKS
Discharged Negro Soldiers Tell
Their Side of Brownsville Affair
TO THE SENATE COMMITTEE
Senator Pettus Charges Foraker With
Leading the Wtnesses--SOme
Queer Testimony is Ad4uced.

A Washington special says: The
senate committee on military affairs
began it's third day of the Browns
vile hearing at 1890 Wednesday. ia
cob D. Frazier, former first sergeant
of company D, twenty-ifth infantry
was called to the stand. Senator For
aker conducted the examination and
he had not proceeded far when his
methods were challenged by Senator
Pettus, who declared that the Ohio
senator was leading" the witness.
Frazier testified that he, with other
married soldiers, was permitted to live
outside the post quarters and was at
home with his family on the night OF
August 13 when the firing in Browns
Vile occurred. He was awakened by
two shots. On his way to the quar-
tiers he heard the general fusilade. He
described the call to arms and the roll
call, which was ordered by Captain
Lyons, and he said he found every
man present or accounted for
Frazier testified that each man was
allowed twenty rounds of ammunition,
ten of which were carried in a belt
and ten in a cartridge box. The cart
ridge boxes were not carried during
the inspection next day, but were LETT
at quarters About two days after
the trouble all ammunition was turn
cd in, and all was properly accounted
for. Asked if he had anything to do
with the trouble, Frazier answered
no, and said he didn't know Of any
other member of his company being
engaged in it. He had withheld no In.
formation and declared there was no
conspiracy Of silence.
Senator Warner cross-examined the
witness. Frazier had believed, he said,
that some of the soldiers had shot
up" the town, but the opinion was
based on the fact that his company
commander had so told him; he had
never heard any of the soldiers admit
it. He had talked with many OF the
men, and said he had talked one way''
to them in order that they might talk
the other way" and so find ont who
did the shooting.
Frazier stated it as his belief that
the citizens of Brownsville had them
selves "shot up" the town to drive
the soldiers away. Mr. Overman said:
do you think the citizens would kill
one of their own number and commit
murder to get you away?"
Frazier replied: Il don't know
whether any one was killed; they
wanted US away. Colored men would
spend very little money in the saloons
on account Of their treatment, and the
citizens Of Brownsville wanted white
soldiers who would spend their
money"
With reference to the contention
that the citizens Of Brownsville were
disguised as soldiers, the fact was
brought out that the witness had tes-
tilted in former hearing that the cit
liens might have procured discarded
caps and uniforms from soldiers who
had been there before them. He said
ut this time, however, that all men in
the twenty-ifth infantry wore hats
Jerry 2. Reeves, former sergeant Of
company D, said that on the night of
the trouble he was awakened by shots
which appeared 10 be in the direction
of the quarters of company B. lie
could not state who did the shoot
ing and said he had never been able
to get any information from men,
bers Of company D. He knew moth.
ing of any conspiracy of silence and
did nor believe any OF the soldiers
were implicated in the ARRAY.
Senator Oyernlan asked: Gould the
citizens of Brownsville get any Spring
field rife cartridges?" and Reeves re- I
Piled mo"