Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-03-12
THEY SWEAR TO ANY OLD THING
One Witness contradcts Himself and
Attempts to Get Out of 1t BY Prae.
ticalIy Saying That Colonel Lover.
ing Made False Report-Men
Could Have Left Barracks.
nv Associated Press

WASHINGTON, ID. c., March IL
The inquiry by the Senute committee
on military affairs into the facts con.
nected with the ARRAY Mt Browns
Vile. Texas, which resulted In the
discharge without honor of battalion
of the Twenty-fifth Infantry, was re-
sumed today after u ten days recess.
The members of the committee nres.
ent were Senators Warren, chairman;
Scott, Foraker, Lodge, Hemingway,
Bulkell, Warner. Foster, Pettus and
Overman. Joseph Henry Howard, for.
merly of Company ID, testified that on
the night of the affray, August 10, ha
went on guard at 1890 O'Clock and
his post was around the barracks.
About midnight he heard two shots
from the town and then q fusillade.
Witness was asked by Mr.. Foraker.
Were YOU In n position where you
could have seen Is or 20 leave tho
barracks and jump over the wall IL
they had done so?"
Yes, sir" replied Howard
did any men leave the barracks
and jump over the WALTZ" asked Mr..
Foraker.
No. sir" the witness answered.
Cross examination bysSMr Warner
developed that the witness first
thought the shots were fired ut him,
but when he heard no shots strike
about the quarters he was sure the
firing was In the opposite direction.
Men Could Have Left Barracks.
The cross examination by Mr.. Fos-
ter further developed that men could
easily have left the barracks and
climbed the wall while the sentry was
marching in front of the barracks.
Howard testified that he was one of
the twelve men arrested for compile
ity in the shooting and that when the
balance of the troops prepared TO
leave Brownsville, Major Penrose
called Mt tile guard house and said
IF you men had told what you knew
about this affair you would not be In
here. If You know anything about the
shooting you want TO tell it,"
The witness said he had told all he
knew.
Mr.. Foraker read the charge filed
against the witness and asked him if
he had ever been given an opportunity
to plead to it,
No, sir" was the reply.
Then give you the chance now"
said Mr.. Foraker. What do you
plead?"
Not guilty" answered the witness
emphatically.
suppose. of course. you would tell
us if you were guilty?" commented
Mr.. Oyerman, with sarcasm.
Yes, sir. 1 would tell,' said the
witness
He then repeated that he had heon
ready for trial at all times and always
had been willing to tell all he knew
OF the shooting. Alexander Ash, for
merry private of Company d, testi-
ned that he was on guard the night
OF the shooting at the post around
the Guartermaster's storehouse and
other buildings in that vicinity. He
SAID he heard two shots from the
county road and then horses running
toward Ailison's saloon from which di.
rection he heard several more shots.
The balance of his testimony was cor.
roboratiye Of that given by other wit
nesses.
Witness Contradicts Himself. /,
Joseph Rogers, of Company C. testf
lied that when the shooting occurred
ne was in the guard house reading a
novel. His direct testimony devel.
oped little that was not in his state
ment before Colonel Lowering, which
was called to his attention. In that
statement Rogers said he was asleep
when the shooting occurred. He de.
MED that he had been asked by Col.
onel Lowering whether he was asleep
or awake