Richmond planet., 1907-02-23
Wrongfully Charged and UnjustIy Punished.
Graphic Recital of COlOred Soldiers.
Their Testimony Creates a Sensation.

garrison and picked up these car
fridge SHELLS and clips. as well as
cast-Om uniforms which the soldiers
had thrown away; that the soldiers
ut Brownsville used only reduced
range ammunition: that the police
and many people of the town wore
khaki similar in color TO that worn
by the soldiers; that the firing was
mixed, judging from the sound, and
that IL came from Winchesters. revol
vers. and six shooters: that IL was
directed toward the fort; that bull
let's were heard whizzing I'm the di-
rection of the barracks, and. lastly.
that there was great prejudice a
mong the people OF the town, par
ticularly the Mexicans. because the
soldiers patronized the saloon of a
discharged colOred soldier and pass
ed by several rum shops conducted
by white people.
PURPOSE OF THE TESTIMONY.
All this testimony. it is said, has
been merely for the purpose OF vim
dicating the soldiers and making it
appear that the shooting was done
by the townspeople. EXceTs as to-
minor details. there has been very
little disparity in the statements
made by the soldiers.
For the most part their stories
have been told in a straightforward
manner, except as to that part of
the narrative which had TO do with
the discussion among the men over
the affair. Some have said that
there was no talk among the SOL
Oh h
said that they talked with the men
from them, but have failed.
Cross examination, which has
been conducted chiefly by Senator
Warner, has failed TO confuse them
much, and has been directed largely
toward a lot of immaterial and ir-
relevant details, which tended TO
throw no light upon the real pur-
pose of the inquiry.
The principal feature brought
out 90 the detriment of the soldiers
was that the attempt to place the
responsibility for the shooting up
of the town upon the citizens came
as a suggestion from representatives
of the Constitution League. II is
believed to be a sort of afterthought
as far as the soldiers are concerned,
for statements in this respect were
not made to Gen. Darlington or Maj.
BIocksom, and they only remember
ed these things after Gilchrist
Stewart had had a conference with
them and induced about thirty of
them to sign a statement. This
fact was brought out by cross-eXam-
ination OF several witnesses by Sen
ator Foster.
II is pointed out that a line of in
ouiry once or twice suggested by
Senator Overman has not been pur-
sued concerning the movements OF
the seventeen men who were on
guard the night of the raid
These men all had tneir guns, y
and. according TO the testimony, not /
more than four with a noncommis-l I
stoned officer we're actively on
watch at any one time. Their posts \
were only about $50 yards from the
scene OF the shooting, and the ques
ton has been suggested: Why
could not the shooting have been
done by these men, who could eas
lily have gotten back to their posts
before the garrison was aroused?
IL Is also pointed out that these
men had plenty of time to clean
their guns before they were obliged
to turn them in the next morning.
The answer made TO this question
Is that the firing was in progress
while the call TO arms was being |
sounded. and even while the men
were forming In line It had ceas
ed when the roll was being called.
II is also asserted that all of these
men had their proper amount OF am
munition when they were inspected.
[ Washington Post, Feb. 10, 1901
There was considerable conflict
Ing testimony In the Brownsville ar
fair Investigation yesterday. and for
the first time damaging evidence a
rainst the colored troops was
brought out.