The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-02-06
NEGRO SOLDIERS
DENY ALL BLAME
SENATE COMMITTEE OPENS IN
CURRY INTO THE BROWN
VILE AFFAIR.
GUNS WERE IN RACKS
When All the Men Answered Roll Call
Few Minutes After Shooting,
Says Sergeant--Foraker and
Ledge Have Tilt.

Washi gton, Feb o. Every man in
company d. Twentyhflh infantry. was
prescnt and answered TO the roll call a
fow minutes after the riot at Browns.
Vile Tex, and could not, therefore,
have taken part in the shooting. ac-
Icording to testimony Civ Il al the open
ing hearing before the senate com
mittee today by Sergeant Israel Har-
ris of that company.
Sergeant Harris testified that when
tn gun racks of his company were
opened all Of the guns were found in
place. which, he declared proved that
noae OF the guns Of that company
could have been used in the riot
When asked If it was not possible for
/ the soldiers 10 have cleaned the gins
while they were returning from pa
trolling the town, the witness said 1t
was not because Of the length of time
required TO clean one of the rev
! Springfield rifles
A core cf negro soldiers Of the
| ITwenrytifth infantry, discharged from
| tn army without honor because of
their alleged participation in the
| shooting up of the Texas town, were
| in attendance when the committee
begaa It's sitting They were not in
yited nto the committee room as
whole hut were assigned to an un-
gsed end Ct a corridor near the room
lanl only a limited number were per-
mitted to sit in the room during the
proceedings. There was only one
white man in the group of witnesses.
Negroes Refuse to Talk.
The negroes, while waiting to be
called, discussed political affairs with
an occasional reference to the prob.
able length of the inquiry. but because
lof agreement or for reasons best
known to themselves the merits of
the affair to be investigated and the
probabia result of the inquiry were
tabooed as a subject of conversation.
1t is understood that Senator Foraker
author cf the resolution Of inquiry.
VIII look after the interests of thei
men if they are placed in jeopardy.
Senator Warren, chairman of the com.
mi tee, presided at todays meeting.
Before the proceedings opened there |
reported in response to subpoenas the |
follow g former members cf the dis ,
charged battalion of the Tw nty-fifth !
In fu ~
twenty-siX years service has been told |
OF in debate in the senate; w. II. Nil. !
Ter E. l., Danisls, l.. T. Thornton, c |
H. Mad son Isreal Harris, A. II. Ro- (
land, T l.. Altman, Wallington, Elmer
Brown, Franklin Dessaure Jackson /
and Winter Washington
Most of the men were privates. but
in addition there was former Sergeant
Isreal Harris of company n who is
now employed in Boston. Senator
Foraker took charge Of the calling OF /
witnesses and first summoned Harris |
to The stand. H was questioned by !
Senator Foraker concerning the hap !
penigs nat Fcrt Brown on the night /
Of Avg 13-1L
Relates Actions at Shooting. /
In reply TO questions he said: "On |
that night we had some disturbanc s 4
some shooting. ! mean. I was asleep 4
in d barracks and at about u o'cloci, 4
was aroused by the noise Of guns I
put on my trousers and shoes but
no blouse or leggings Then there /
was the sound 70 arms and y com 1
pany got dressed and We started for T.
our guns
The vi ness then told OF getting the 4
guns in the dark, after the racks bad /
bee1 opened He described the racks I
and showed that there is but one key 4
to rack and that this K y will unlock .
only one rack and thai the keys arc .
in the possession Of noncommissionel /
Officers.
The witness said that when the I
company formed outside Captaig Ly- I
ons Of company D was prss sent and i'm 4
mediatciy called the roll and person I
ally counted his men and that none 4
was absent. He said that no pereons I
had Joined The company after the fGT- I
matio1 and he declared that no men +
could hav- fred from y barracks f
without hav-g been detected.
NJ ForaFer asked The witness 70 .
show how a gun is cleaned
Cant that be dispensed With"
asked Senator Lodge.
. No. I want To show how long IL f
takes 70 clean gun So it Viil pass in- 4
50 cfiOn. How long doe &C. require"
Mr.. Foraker asked the witness Har
rs said i- could not BE- do-e in less
than ten minutes and be then vent
through the movements.
Nc Arlagnition Missing.
Each nan at Brownsville. tesfiiel i
(ConclHded OF Sixth PsgsI