The Washington herald., 1907-02-22
THREAT TO KILL NEGROES
White Soldier Tells How Brownsville
Citizens Talked.
Evidence as TO Mexican Troops al
MatHmOrus-COIOred and White
Witnesses Tell Same story.

Startling testimony was given by VIII
bert voschelle, the white corral boss at
Fort Brown. yesterday IN the Browns
vile investigation.
He said that at $50 p "a, August 13,
he went 20 the eanteen to get his mail
As he was leaving he met Maj. Penrose,
Mayor Combs. and Quarantine Officer
Evans, of Brownsville, As he was pass
ing he heard Evans say. Now, major. If
there is no arrest made between this hour
and IL o'clock every enlisted man that We
see on the streets will be shot" Wit
ness later learned that Evans was the
husband Of the woman who. IL is claimed,
had been assaulted by soldiers that after
noon. He said Evans was apparently
much excited and gesticulated violently.
Voschclle said he lived outside Of the
barracks and was aroused by the shoot
ing On his way TO the corral he saw
two policemen running along the wall Of
the barracks. He did not see whether
they had guns or not. He supposed they
had been aroused by the shooting.
Witness said many OF the citizens OF
Brownsville especially the Mexicans,
wore khaki, and that it was not an uE-
common thing to hear shooting around
town. Many OF the citizens. besides the
members of the ranger force and the
customs officers, had guns
When VoscheIe reached the corral, all
the soldiers detailed there were present,
although that was ten minutes or more
after the firing ceased. Three civilians,
two OF them Mexicans. were not there
The policemen Of Brownsville. witness
said. wore khaki uniforms much like those
worn by the soldiers.
Noschelle denied the statement of the
colored witness (Mapp). who testified
VoscheIle had breakfast at the colored
mess On the morning after the shooting.
and had told him the affair was a good
thing it happened the way it did, as he
(Voschelle) had hear az a plot IN town
TO get a lot Of colored soldiers in Allison S
saloon and kill them. Voschelle said he
never had breakfast at any time in the
colored mess, and. further. he did not
make the statement testified 10 by Mapp.
/ Voschelle, who has been at Browns
vile for three years. said the people
there were opposed to having any soldiers
there, white or black. There had fire.
/ quenty been trouble with the soldiers OF
the Twenty-siXth Infantry, which Is
white. He stated that the second night
after the shooting he had met a friend
! in town with a Winchester. and upon
! asking him if he had been hunting, Tho
man replied; NO, but we intend to be
better fixed tonight than we were night
/ before last"
/ Charles Hairstom. on sentry duty be-
/ fore the officers quarters on the night OF
/ the shooting stated that he had gone Il
arouse Maj. Penrose when the shooting
/ began. but found the conmandant of the
/ post already awake. Mai Penrose gave
the order for sounding the call 10 arms
/ Samuel Battle and John II. Hill, sentry
/ men, We're sworn. but nothing new was
adduced. Battle admitted he had bidder
/ behind the barracks for fear CT getting
hit when he heard the firing.
/ Voschelle. Hairstom. Battle, and Hill, il
/ describing the sounds of the shots anC
supposed direction the bullets were go
/ ing. all agree in their accounts witt
each other and with other Witnesses. black
and white. Testimony was brought GU
/ in regard to the Mexican troops at Mata.
moras their guns. ammunition. and uni
/ forms.