The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-07

The dismissal of three companies OF the
Twenty-hfth Infantry by former Presi-
dent Roosevelt for participation in the
shooung-up Of Brownsville, Tex, on the
nights Of August Is and a 1906, was sus-
tanned yesterday by the report Of the
court of inquiry which investigated the
ARRAY.
The court gave the unanimous opinion.
the report said. that the evidence sus-
tanned the charges that the negro soldiers
were guilty of the charges made against
them by the mayor and citizens Of
Brownsville. The officer of the regiment,
the members Of the court declared had
been negligent in not performing their
duties properly, Immediately prior TO the
ARRAY. ard In not ordering an inspection
OF the regiment Immediately after the
raid on the town. instead of at daylight.
several hours later
Officers Showed Negligence.
II an immediate inspection had been
held, the members OF the court declared
several Of the culprits would have been
discovered. In addition, if the officers had
performed their duty properly before the
raid. the ARRAY could not have occurred,
IN the opinion OF the court.
The report, which was submitted 10
Secretary Of War Dickinson, recommended
that fourteen Of the soldiers discharged
without honor for participation in the az
fray be allowed 20 re-enlist. Three COM
panies of the Twenty-ffth Infantry. Com
panies B. c, and d, were discharged
without honor for declining 20 give in
formation which would enable the army
authorities 70 locate and punish the sol
dlers who raided the town.
The appointment of the court of in
Quiry was in accordance with an act Of
Congress, which was passed after a long
fight by former Senator Joseph B. Fora
ker, of Ohio, who defended the negro
soldiers The court consisted OF five re-
tired officers. Lieut.. Gen. S. B. NJ. Young.
president; Mai. Gen, Joseph P. Sanger,
Brig, Gen. Butler D. Price. Brig. Gen.
John NJ. Wilson, and Brig. Gen Theo-
dore Schwan.
The report, which will be forwarded to
Congress, is IN part as follows:
AS TO the charges made by the mayor
and citizens Of Brownsville. that the
soldiers OF the Twenty-fifth Infantry,
stationed at Fort Brown, Tex, did on
the night Of August 1874, 1896, shoot into
houses Of the town OF Brownsville, Tex,
occupied by men. women. and children,
killing Frank Natus, a citizen Of said
town. seriously wounding Lieutenant OF
Police NJ. Y. Dominguez, causing him the
loss Of an arm, and killing the horse
under him. the court is unanimous in its
opinion that the evidence sustains the
charges"
List of Enlisted Men.
Section 3 of the report gave a list
Of enlisted men who were recommended
for re-ennstment They are James A
Coltrano, Edward L Daniels. and Ed
ward Warheld. of Company B; Lewis J.
Baker, Clifford l. Adair, Henry ". Ar
vim, Calvin Smith, and John Smith. of
Company c. and Robert Williams. Win
ter Washington. Elias Gent. John A.
Jackson, Samuel E. Scott, and William
Van Hook. Of Company D.
Gen. Schwan did not concur IN the
second conclusion Of the court charging
the officers Of the regiment with neglect
Of duty. Gems. Young and Sanger did not
concur in the third conclusion. which
recommends the reelection Of four
teen Of the discharged soldiers.
The court Of inquiry has been in session
for several months in this city hearing
witnesses and taking testimony Several
thousand pages Of testimony were taken.
and the 10000 pages Of testimony before
the Senate Military Committee. which
also investigated the ARRAY, was also
taken into consideration. Capt. Charles
R. Rowland, Twenty-frst Infantry, was
recorder.