Evening star., 1909-04-20
INQUIRY UNDER WAY
Brownsville Court Members
Reviewing Testimony.
TASK AHEAD Is BIG ONE
Investigation the. Sixth That Has
Been Made of Affair.
HARD TO LOCATE EX-SOLDIERS
Scattered All Over the Country and
Many Of Their Addresses Lost
Since Their Discharge.
TASK AHEAD is BIG ONE
HARD TO LOCATE EX-soLDIERs

cumstances connected with the shooting
up of Brownsville. Tex, on the night of
August 1914, 1906 will be made by the
court Of inquiry which will soon meet In
pursuance Of an act of Congress passed
last winter. The especial purpose Of this
inquiry Is Ito hear and report upon all
charges and testimony relating to the
shooting affray which took place at
Brownsville" and Ito determine which
soldiers and n-commissioned officers, II
any, of Companies B, c and d, 25th In
fantry, who were discharged from the
military service as members of that regi-
ment are qualified for re-enlistment in the
army of the United States" While that
is the specific duty placed upon the court.
the investigation they will make PROB
ably will be as comprehensive as any
other that has taken place.
While the date for the initial meeting
of the court has not been determined, the
work devolved upon 1t Is now going on
as rapidly as would be the case If the
court had been organized and had started
its work by the holding OF sessions. The
task of preparing for the work Of such
a body involves the necessity of engaging
stenographers and other assistants, of
laying out a general plan of inquiry to
be pursued. and. on the part Of every
member Of the court of familiariZing
himself with the testimony and official
orders bearing upon the case. All this
work is now going on by means of con-
ferences as actively. 1t is said, as If the
court were organized.
Five Previous Investigations.
There have been five Investigations OF
the Brownsville affair. The first was by
Maj. Blocksom, department inspector,
who was later charged by Senator For
aker in very vigorous speech with being
prejadiced investigator. The second
was by the citizens committee of Browns
vile, the chairman of which was Capt
William Kelly, a Union veteran of the
civil war. There was an investigation by
Gen. Garlington inspector general of the
army. and still another by Assistant At
torney General Purdy. who was charged
by the administration with the duty OF
still more developing all the facts in the
case. After these Investigations had been
completed the activity of Senator Foraker
brought about still another. and perhaps
the most comprehensive inquiry of all
by the Senate committee on military af-
fairs.
The testimony taken in these several at
tempts to ferret out the guilty persons
whether in the negro regiment or among
the people of Brownsville. Is contained II
has been given to each member OF the
court Of inquiry. and they are now re.
viewing the testimony with great care.
This court is composed of Lieut.. Gen
Samuel B. NJ Young, Maj. Gen. JOSEPH
P. Sanger, Brig. Gen. John M. Wilson
Brig. Glen. Theodore SchUan and Brig
Gen. Butler D. Price. all Of whom are or
the retired list of the army. Capt
Charles r. Rowland, 21st Infantry. is tht
recorder OF the court. All members o.
4 1,C,., IN, nrfJ nj
northwest. except Gen. Schwan. who is 6
native Of Germany. Gen. Wilson is the
only graduate of West Point on the court
Gems. Young, Schwan and Price begar
their careers as enlisted men. Gen. San
ger entered the volunteer service in 1856
as. second lieutenant. None of then
ever served with negro regiment.
Trouble in Locating ex-Soldiers.
One of the difficult problems in con
nection with the work of the court will
be locating the members of Companie.
B, and ID. who were discharged by or
der of President Roosevelt. OF ths
160 negro soldiers, many are scattered al
over the country. and their addresses
unknown to the department. An effor
will be made to notify all Of the dis
charged soldiers. SO that they may bs
able to come before the court and Offer
eElOence 10 prove tndI tney are worthy
OF re-enlistment. In addition to that, &
general invitation will be given to the
public to submit any facts that may be
relevant.
1t Is possible that the members of the
court may visit Brownsville to secure
additional information shere. If, upor
reading the printed testimony. it should
appear that personal inspection and z
e-examination Of citizens of Brownsville
three years after the crime was com.
mitted are apt to elicit facts, the couri
will be fully empowered to take testi
mony on the ground. One of the inter
esting features of this investigation re-
lates to the possibilities of some witness
giving testimony that was withheld thres
years ago. All facts that have been Sc.
cured by detectives who have been al
work during the last year for the Wal
Department will be available, and it /;
possible that some very interesting de-
velopments may be forthcoming from
that source.
From time to time the court will report
to the Secretary OF War. and one yeal
after the calling of the court by its pres
ident 1t must submit its final report to the
Secretary. II the findings prove the ap
plicants innocent they are to be re-en
listed in the army and to receive their
back pay and rating as il they had mo-