The Washington herald., 1907-05-26
FORAKER GETS KNIFE
Takes Small Weapon from
Brownsville Witness.
PR0-TAFT MEN ARE FESTIVE
senator, However, Does Not Tell
What lie Proposes Doing with
Mcxican's PrOperty-Ca3t. Kelly
Accuses Negro TroOps-Tells In
guisItor lie "Is Older and Truthful"

Capt. Kelly chairman Of the citizens
committee. Of Brownsville, Tex. proved
10 be the most interesting witness yes
terday before the Senate Committee on
Military Affairs, investigating the Browns
Vile ARRAY.
He is a native of Ireland and served I'm
the Union army in the civil war having
enlisted in the First New York Mounted
Infantry. He commanded company of
negro soldiers during a part Of the war.
and when mustered out at the close Of
hostilities. settled In Brownsville. He is
president Of the First National Bank Of
Brownsville.
He was positive that the negro soldiers
did the shooting He testified that he
visited the garrison, accompanied by his
son, Capt William Kelly, jr, now al
West Point, 10 call on the officers, and
that both he and his son were impressed
with the lack OF discipline Asked TO
specify. he said soldiers failed to salute
their officers on the streets.
Officers came down town in untidy uni
forms and without collars He declared
!
that there we're only ten or twelve fami-
lies Of social standing in Brownsville.
had stated an untruth. and added that he
had forbidden that officer 10 his home
because OF the latter's persistent lewd
conduct He specified certain acts of the
officer which at the suggestion Of Senator
Warner were striken from the record
Retaliates ON Foraker.
Being pressed by Senator Foraker on
cross-examination, Capt Kelly suddenly
faced the Ohio Senator, and said with
/ Ideliberauon:
Senator Foraker, ! am an older man
than you are, and l am a truthful man.
/ Senator Foraker blushd and replied
good naturedly.
| Il have no doubt you mean TO be truth
/ full captain. but l doubt II you are an
/ older man than ! am. feel very old
| these DAYS"
/ The Ohio Senator and the witness found
| common ground In their estimate Of Capt
Bill Mcdonald. of the Texas Rangers.
I Capt Kelly said that the leader Of the
I Rangers came to him in the shape of a
walking arsenal and made suggestions
which. if followed. would have led to a
| fight IN which all Of Brownsville would
| have been wiped out.
Capt Kelly testified that he urged the
/ local Judge to put the captain Of the
Rangers in jail as a distuTbeT Of the
/ peace
/ Did Capt Mcdonald have his bucket
| of water with him2" inquired Senator
/ Foraker. referring 20 the reputation given
| 10 the Ranger by an army officer. who
declared that he would charge he'll with
/ one bucket Of water"
The question aroused Senators Warren
and Warner. who suggested that tho in
cident had been sufficiently exploited al
/ ready
/ No new evidence was brought out
| Capt Kelly, who was finally convinced
| that the negro troops did the shooting
admitted he saw nothing.
witness Saw Gun Flashes.
| one witness John 3. Mcdonnell. testi-
/ fed that be saw the troops in from. OF
I the garrison gate Just as the shooting oc-
Cured He saw the flashes OF two shots
/ fired from the garrison gate and one fired
/ from the window Of the barracks. he said.
/ Senator Foraker called Genaro Padron.
+ a Mexican policeman Of Brownsville. and
I demanded through an interpreter. il
/ Padron had fourished a huge knife on
| the streets and threatened on the day be-
/ fore the negro troops arrived 10 carve
/ them up on their arrival
/ IL required some time 10 convince Pad
ron just what Senator Foraker wanted 20
+ know. but when he understood he delved
/ into his pocket and brought out a knife
I that would pass anywhere I'm Texas as
/ very "l5dy-like.' Senator Foraker exam
ined il with a skeptiCs eye and inquired
/ if that was the only knife Padron owned.
! The latter insisted that he had never
/ owned another, and Senator Foraker con
| hscated the knife for the time being.
/ "Oh. take the description OF the knife
and give IL back to him. urged Senator
! TaliaferrO
! I am going to hold that knife for the
/ present" insisted Senator Foraker. Il
/ may want 10 use Il later
/ One Of Secretary Tafts friends on the
/ committee moved uneasily in his seat
'Ill get you a better one IL this Is lost"
shouted Senator Foraker after the re-
! treating Mexican. who could not under
| stand a word Of English