The Washington herald., 1907-03-27

The Brownsville investigation being
conducted by the Senate Committee on
Military Affairs was enlivened yesterday
by a passage AZ arms between Senators
Foraker and Warner. VINO are the prin-
Cipal examiners Of witnesses for the COM
mittee. Mr.. Warner was cross-examining
Private Thomas Taylor, of Company B.
Twenty-hfth Infantry, one of the men
whose gun was Identified BY the War De
partment experts as having fired some Of
the shells picked up In the streets of
Brownsville. when Mr.. Foraker objected
TO Mr.. Warner repeatedly referring TO the
fact that the soldier had frequently gone
10 the saloon opened In Brownsville by a
colored man. Mr.. Foraker thought il un-
fair to the witness. as the testimony
showed exactly 10 the contrary.
Mr. Warner retOrted that his remark
was justified. as the record would show
Mr.. Foraker demanded the reading Of the
stenograp piers notes, which confirmed the
use of the word frequently"
sharp Debate Follows.
Mr.. Warner maintained that his exam
tnaJiOn OF witnesses had been perfectly
fair, but Mr.. Foraker insisted that his OBJ
lection was necessary. The Ohio Senator
inumated that the Missourian was at
tempting 10 put words into the mouth OF
the soldier. Senator Warner declared he
would not submit to such charges. and
asserted that Senator Foraker had not
been following the rules of evidence any
more closely that the other Senators. and
he saw no occasion for complaint. The
examination then proceeded.
Taylor's examination brought out the
fact that Company B owned three shot
guns which the soldiers used for cunning
when they obtained leave. Previous wit
nesses had testified that the sound of the
hring resembled shotguns.
Private James L. Wilson, also, of Com
pany B, another man whose rifle was
named by the experts, corroborated the
testimony as to the shotguns. He also
told Of the ''shoOting-up" expressing the
opinion that the firing was from outside
the walls toward the barracks. and de-
clared he could hear the whistling Of the
bullets.
Fails 10 Find Marks.
II was so marked, he averred, that when
the call came he and other members Of
the company had dressed sitting up on the
floor or erouehed down as much as possi-
bic, while one man had lodged behind the
chimney TO escape the bullets. He ac-
knowledged, however, that he was unable
afterward TO find the marks of any bullets
on the outside Of the barracks.
Spottswood w Taliaferro, sergeant
major. Twenty-hfth Infantry, who had
been twelve years with that regiment, and
was still in it. heard no bullets although
while the firing was going on he had gone
from the administration building TO Mai.
Penrose's quarters, thence 20 the guard
house, and back to Company c barracks
over half a mile.
Not the ScHVenEer.
His account of the trouble included
hearing in the midst OF the firing some
one outside the fort yelling three times.
Il want all of your in a deep bass voice.
Under cross-examination he declared Fl
was not the voice Of the scavenger. whose
iron cart and mule, going on the dead
run during the firing. he had mistaken
for Gatling gun.
While TaHaferro had always been we'll
treated by the Brownsville people. ne was
not surprised after the alleged assault on
Mrs Evans by col0red soldiers that the
trouble came. The evening after all
passes had been revoked, and the strag-
glers had been rounded up, Mail Orderly
Mitchell, who came from the post-ofice
about s o'clock, had reported a rather
excited crowd there. Some one also had
told him it was "a good thing the sol
diers were ordered in or some one would
get killed"
Some Of the white officers of the regi-
raent will testify TODAY