The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-03-22

|
Galveston Paper
Washington, March 18.-Four rifl2;
from B., 18th infantry, We're used in
THE Brownsville affray if the ordnance
ate reports sent to the senate commit
Itee on military affairs today concerning
1.-THE microscopic examinations Of th5
33 shells picked up III the streets OF tho
town on the morning following the
shooting
All of the rifles in the possession oi
1.-THE battalion at Fort Brown on the
night of August 13 were sent to the
Springfield arsenal and two shots were
fired from each. The shells used were
then compared with those picked up 1T
brownsville and the officers making
1.-THE tests reported that it has been dem
|Onstrated beyond dispute that foul
|guns of Company B., were used in dis
charging all of the 80 shells The re-
Iports We're made a part Of the comMIt-
Itee records and Lieutenant Hawkins OF
the ordnance department and G. A
lSpOoner, expert inspector Of gauges
fused in the manufacture of musketS at
1.-THE Springfield arsenal are ready TO so
on the stand to explain their repol is
land be cross examined concerning
them.
| Two Of company BIS rifles said to
Ihave been used in the affray were dept
lin the store house under lock, the key
IOf which was in the possession of for
|mer Quartermaster Sergeant Walker
tMCCurdy, and the other two rifles were
said to have been issued to PrivateS
Joseph L. Wilson and Thomas Taylor.
ISenatOr Foraker Immediately had sub
pOenas issued for Taylor and Wilson
and for the recall of McCurdy. He
lasked also that the war department be
instructed to send for Lieutenant Lliu-
|rison, who commanded company E at
1.-THE time of the affray. Secretary Taft
in letter to the committee pointed oIt
that the men who did the shooting may
lhave used any guns they could secure,
and that Taylor and Wilson cannot be
held guilty because Of the showing
made by the tests at the arsenal.
! No members of the 25th infantry
were examined today and no testimony
was given that had any direct bearing
on the shooting except that of Henry
Watson private of company NJ, 26th
infantry. He testified that he was left
behind as a guard at the post when
the Goth infantry moved out and that
he saw loose shells of both the Krag
and Springfield type lying about the
barracks. He said that he also saw
|38 calibre revolver ammunition lying
around, and that the barracks were
open so that citizens could secure access
to this ammunition. On cross exa1ni-
nation he admitted that it is always
easy for soldiers to secure extra AMI
munition if they desired it.
The committee today took up the
Question of going to Brownsville in
connection with the investigation. 1t
was decided that it probably will be
necessary to visit Brownsville but no
action will be necessary flob1tir that
action will be taken toward fixing a
s"r the trip.
Chairman Warren of the senate COM
mittee on military affairs which is iu-
Ivestigating the Brownsville affray, TO-
day received from Secretary Taft a
copy of a dispatch from San Antonio,
Texas, as follows:
| "The Adjutant General, United States
Army, Washington.
| Chief Of police, Galveston, has just
wired me confession of Gray, supposed
discharged soldier, appearing in papers
today was a faks.
! i(Signed) "BLOCKSOM, Major"
The dispatch relates to an alleged
confession printed in Galveston news
paper and sent broadcast through the
country.
| Senator Foraker, who is taking the
leading role in the defense of the negro
soldiers said today that he would order
the subpoena of the editor Of the Gal
weston News in order to secure a state
ment from his concerning the story.
! STARTED ''BRUSH FIRE.