Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-05-16
Review of the
Evidence.
Continued From First Page.)

| rifle, or a Krag rife, or a Krag car
bine, or a Mauser rifle.
1t is claimed, however, that they
must have been fired from a Spring
field rife.
First. because the Springfield car
| fridge is too long and too large TO
4 At into a Krag rifle or Krag carbine,
or a Mauser rifle, and that If the
| bullets that were found belonged to
Springfield rifles, and that inasmuch
as no one at Brownsville. so far as
the testimony discloses, had a Spring
| field rifle, except only the Negro SOL
diers, they must have done the firing
Until this circumstantial evidence
was presented to Major Penrose and
his officers, they would not believe
| that any of their men had been en-
gagged in the shooting, but this testi-
mony seemed so conclusive that they
changed their minds and expressed
| themselves as convinced that their
men must have done the shooting.
It was this apparently conclusive
testimony that fastened the convic-
ton OF guilt upon the soldiers I'm the
minds of all who were engaged in the
investigation OF the ARRAY, and which
led the investigators to disbelieve the
soldiers and to desist from investi-
| EaAAnE AAt IMtEAAOn OF the DONSlOle
guilt OF others.
As soon as this evidence was pre-
scented to Major Penrose and his Of
ficers they put their men under the
strictest scrutiny and subjected them
to the severest discipline and exami-
nations, with view to ascertaining
who the guilty men were. They con
tinued this course not only at Fort
Brown, but subsequently at FL Reno.
! down to the time when their men
were discharged without honor, but,
Notwithstanding they made every
kind Of an effort. they failed TO get
any clue whatever TO indicate what
men. II any at all, we're guilty.
Every man I'm the command con-
tlnued TO stoutly and unqualifedly
deny that he had participated in the
ARRAY, and also that he had any
knowledge whatever as TO who had
done the shooting.
When General Darlington amour
ced the Presidents ustimatum. THAI
unless some one disclosed who the
guilty parties were the whole battal-
ion would be DISCHARGED without hon
or. Il was thought that at least those
oldest in the SCI vice. and therefore
having the most to lose by such a
discharge. would come forward with
discriminating testimony: but when
they continued to assert their inno-
cence and lack OF any knowledge
whatever on the subject, their Off
GERS, who knew their pride In their
record as soldiers and knew their
ltrustworthiness and truthfulness and
general reliability as men, began to
doubt their guilt.
This wavering ripened into convfc-
tion when during the progress Of the
Penrose court-martial and the SEN
ate investigation a number OF impor-
tant facts favorable to the soldiers
were developed and established.
THE MICROSCOPIC INSPECTION.
No one fact had so much weight
with these officers to change their
minds as what is known in this re-
cord as the microscopic inspection
that was made Of the exploded shells
above referred to.
When the results OF this investi-
cation were communicated to the
Senate Committee on Military AZ
fairs, made a part of the record OF
the Investigation, and made known
10 the public, these officers carefully
studied the various points and feat
ures and phases of the same with
the result that, coupled with other
Testimony, they became thoroughly
convinced that their men were alb
solutely innocent, one and all. of any
participation in the shooting ARRAY,
and of withholding any information
with regard thereto.
All testified fully as to this change
Of opinion in favor of their men, Civ
ing their reasons therefor.
This testimony. which was so con-
elusive to these officers, appears e.
qually conclusive to my mind.
II is OF the most important char
acter and, in consequence. is entitled
to the most careful attention.
My views with respect to this. cir
lcumstantial evidence and this rntcro-
scopic inspection and the conclusions
dedueible from the results of the
same are fully and carefully express
ed In the supplemental minority re-
port signed by the Senator from Con-
necticut and myself.
i do not know how better to pre-l
sent what / have to say in regard
thereto than by quoting the follow
ing from that report. It involves
some REPETITION, but in view of its
Importance that is not Objectionable.
THE SHELLS. CLIPS, ETC.
A lot of exploded cartridge shells.
some clips and cartridges, and a ban
doller were picked up in the alleys
and streets of Brownsville the next
morning after the shooting.
Until these were brought to the
Tort and shown to Major Penrose and
the other officers of the battalion they
would not, any OF them, believe IT
possible that any OF the men of the
battalion had been engaged in the
shooting; but when these were ex-
hibited to them, and they were told
that they were picked up at the
points where the shooting occurred
| they changed their minds aui con-
eluded that In view of such evidence
their men must have done the shoot
ing. From that moment they put
their men under he strictest scrutiny
and surveillance and made every eff
fort possible to ascertain who the
guilty men were, but all such efforts
| failed.
In the meanwhile the court-mar-
n