The Washington herald., 1907-02-08
RANGERS ACCUSED
Brownsville Witnesses De-
clare Soldiers Innocent.
SALOON BOYCOTT RESENTED
Negroes Wanted TO Drink with
Whitcs-FOraker AIIudes to Booker
WrshinEtOn's senatorial Duties"
Clash Over Pressure on Witness.
No Important Disclosures Made.

Several witnesses before the Senate
Committee on Military Affairs, which is
investigating the Brownsville incident, de-
clared yesterday that in their opinion the
town had been "shot up" by Mexicans.
cowboys, Texas rangers, and outlaws.
This was given as the belief which pre-
walls among the ex-soldiers, and was
based upon the alleged fact that the
white people Of Brownsville wanted to
get rid Of the negro troops, and accord
ingly shot up the town in order that
II might appear that the raid had been
committed by the soldiers. The trend Of
the testimony was toward an effort TO
establish this opinion as a fact.
As opposed 20 this theory, Senator Over
man sought to show that the shooting
might have been done by the men on
guard that night. Several witnesses ad-
mitted that it was possible that such
might have been the case
There was an exhibition Of slight feel
ing among the members Of the committee,
which was manifest in a passage between
Senator Scott and Senator Warner. Sena-
tor Warner had been cross-examining a
witness rather infinitely regarding some
details, wren Senator Scott declared that
the Missouri Senator was trying to con-
fuse the witness. and that he saw no
necessity for the line OF questioning which
was being pursued.
Il am not trying 10 confuse the wit
ness" declared Senator Warner, rather
sharply, "and / am not prepared to take
lecture"
Well, replied Senator Scott. i am not
a lawyer. and l don't see the use Of such
testimony"
Array Discussed by Soldiers.
Four witnesses were sworn and all pro-
fessed absolute ignorance Of any connee-
tiOn with the raid, although they admitted
the matter had been discussed by the
soldiers. Sergt. Jerry f. Reeves testified
that the soldiers dsliked the treatment
which the white people accorded them in
Brownsville. but agreed that il was better
to boycott them than 10 break up q
saloon" Consequently. they patronized "a
saloon opened by a discharged soldier
Reeves said when the call to arms was
sounded the men were so excited that
some of them started 10 load their guns,
and that he feared they would shoot one
another.
Sergt. Jacob Frazier was recalled 70 say
that on September q following the shoot
ing. he had been honorably discharged
and had re-enlisted. In November he had
been discharged without honor because
Of the affair which occurred in August
Corp. Albert r. Roland. of d Company,
in the service ten years told of the shoot
ing. but. ike tho others. said he did not
know who was engaged in H. Recently,
he said, he had been employed by com
mittee in New York 10 collect a defense
fund for the "colored nationality He
did not know Of any specific purpose for
which the money was 20 be used. He
solicited with a letter, which Senator
Blackburn asked to have placed in evil
dence. Roland said ne would send to New
York for il.
call Corporal Washington. said Sen
ator Foraker, as one witness left the
stand.
DO YOU mean Booker T. Washington
asked Senator Overman, with smile at
the Ohio Senator
No, not Booker T, replied Mr. Fora
MT. B SA4tNN iit - Att bASs VIII Ills
Senatorial duties 10 come here.
II is explained that this related 10 a
statement, generally credited 20 Mr.. For
aker, that Prof Washington, who rec
commended Ralph Tyler Colored for
public office In Ohio. was the third Sen
ator' from that State.
Mexicans and .aGreasers" Accused.
Washington did not know who was en-
gagged in the affair. but ne suspected
''Mexicans and Greasers." He thought
too. that there might have been some
cowboys engaged in H. This opinion he
admitted, was formed some time after the
shooting He said the white people didn't
ike TO have the soldiers at the bars. and
the soldiers didn't enjoy their treatment
Sergt. Luther T. Thornton, 3 Company.
did not know who was engaged in the
shooting. but he suspected it was done
by citizens out on a drunk. He had
heard, too, from members of the Twenty
sixth Infantry that Texas rangers were
sometimes known TO shoot just outside
the barracks. lie believed rangers and
outlaws did the shooting He admitted
that he had talked over with Gilchrist
Stewart OF the Constitution League. the
matter OF the statement signed by a
number Of the soldiers, but Il was true.
as the statement said, that the soldiers
had thrown away some Of their uniforms