The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-02-07
DIDN'T LIKE
BLACK men
Brownsville Shooting ARRAY
Beforethe Senate.
EX.SERGEANTS TESTIFY
Reeves Stated That FusiIIsde Ap.
peared 10 Come From B. and
c. Quarters.


committee on military affairs began
Its third day Of the Brownsville hear
Ing. Former Sergeant Israel Harris.
having concluded his testimony, was
permitted to return TO his home In
Boston and was succeeded by Jacob
ID. Fraser. former first sergeant Of
Company ID. Twenty-nfth infantry.
Senator Foraker conducted the exami.
nation.
fmser testified that he was married
and with other married. soldiers per.
mitted 10 live outside the post quarters
apd was at home with his family on
the night OF Aug. 10. when the FIR
Ing In Brownsville occurred. and was
awakened by two shots. on his way
TO the quarters he heard the general
fuslllade. which appeared to be near
u and ID companies quarters. lie de-
scrled the call Ia arms and the roll
call which was ordered by Captain
Lyons. aud he said he found every
man present or accounted for.
Fraser said he had heard OF previous
trouble with colored soldiers In Texas,
but knew Of nothing fierce" about
trouble.
lie stated II r his belief that the
citizens Of Brownsville had themselves
shot mp" the town "a drive the sol.
oilers away. Mr.. Ovcrman asked. "Do
you think citizens would kill one Of
their own numher-commlt murder-to
get You awayy'
Fraser replied: Il don't know wheth.
or any one was kille1. They wanted Us
away. Colorei men would spend very
little money In the saloons on account
II their treatment aud the citizens
81 brownsville var Il white soldiers.
who would spend I IN money"
fascr said that N his way Ia the
barracks ruring tho fusillndc in the
STREETS he heard some one say, Cease
dring." lie believed. he said. that the
post had been attacked by the citizens
aud that the companies had already
been called ont and were protecting
tho post.
Fraser was 81 opinion that the In.
sIecilou was made about ITO n. m.
Senator Overman questioned the wit,
ness regarding the whereabouts Of men
who were not NJ roll call aud were nm.
accounted for. but Fraser could give
no direct testimony on that point He
stated that his real In trying 20 find
out secretly" who did the shooting
was due to his desire 10 protect his
own army record. aud he presented a
letter FROM Captain Lyons ~ Company
u certify Ing as to his excellent char.
acicr aud recommending that be- 10
permitted a. re-enllst.
Jerry T.. Reeves. former sergeant Of
Company -. said that on the night Of
the trouble he was awakened by shot
which appeared 10 he In the direction
~ the quarters Of Companies Il and c.
shortly after inspection witness stated
that the guns we're taken away from
the men. hut he believed that the am
munltion was stlll left IN their care.
lie could not state who did the shoot.
inH nnd said ne had never heen able 70
get any Information from members Of
Company y. lie knew nothing Of any
conspiracy Of silence and did not 10.
ileyc Hny o. the soldiers were impli.
Gated In tho afirgy.
Could the citizens Of Brownsville
get any Springfield cartridges" Aud
Reeves replied. mo"
Fraser Il physical giant, aud he
created much amusement IN relating
an account ~ his capture In the Philip.
pines of a noted bandit who had ter.
rorized the consiabulary. Indeed. he
said that the bandit had previously
run the chief Of the constabulsry out
of his own quarters and Installed him.
self there.