The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-17
NEGRO RELEASED
With LIGHT FINE.
+
Carroll Found Not Guilty
of Threatening
Virginians.
OFFICERS WORD
is DISREGARDED
Trial Regarded as Farce-May
Resign Their Commissions.
Many Witnesses Saw Black ;.
Soldier Draw Pistols
Fined for Crossing
. Lines.

>
Az fitting denouement OF the en-.
Aire proceedings in the case OF Thomas
Carroll. the negro soldier. who threat
ened Virginia officers at the Gettysburg
found not guilty of drawing his re-
.volver. although he was seen to do SO
by fully score Of officers and men,
Including United States Army SER
geant, although his own colored non
commissioned commander admitted
that the pistol was drawn when Car
roll arrived in his camp, and although
Carroll himself told the regular army
officer who took him from the First
Virginia guard house that he had
taken the weapon from his holster.
He was, however. found guilty OF hav-
ing crossed a sentinevs post and was
fined $40.
The finding of the summary court
martial was announced yesterday at
Gettysburg by General w. w. Wother-
spoon. brigadier-general commanding
the camp OF instruction. 1t is presumed
that by this time Carroll has paid his
fine and been released from the merely
technical arrest which has prevailed
since the morning of July S.
Commissions Worthless.
Talk of designations from commands
has been general among the Virginia
officers since the summary court was
ordered 10 be proceeded with over the
protest of Governor Mann. This feel
ing was intensified last night among
those TO whom the judgment of the
court became known. The stand is
taken that the signed statements OF
Virginia officers and men were totally
disresarded and that the commissions
have been shown to be valueless
Governor Mann fully shares in the
feeling of Indignation manifested by
the soldiers. He deprecates. however,
the talk OF designations. He will, so
lar as he can exert any influence or
enforce any command, see to it that no
socn occasion ever arises in the future
6y the expedient OF not permitting the
Virginia troops to participate In an
tencampment where there is single
4b!ack soldier. The races, he contends.
VII! never mix. and white and cofored
troops should under no circumstances
oe togetner in camps. Such condition
as likely, In the Executives mind. to
precipitate trouble at any moment.
May Enter Protest.
In addition to looking out for tho
future, 1T is not improbable that the
Governor may lodge q formal complaint
WIT WIZ, the war Department against the
attitude of General mediterranean.
against the original order referring the
mater to a minor court OF very limited
jurisdiction as to punishment, and
against the confirmation by the depart.
ment OF the trial by summary tribunal
Inc statement wired yesterday from
,Gettysburg Is to the effect that Carroll
was found not guilty of having drawn
a revolver on Virginia sentry and or
haVlng threatened Virginia officers on
me afternoon of July 4. Many of the
oticers of the First Virginia, who had
JUST returned from the days exercises
a. me uine OF tho occurrence, saw the
actlon OF Carroll in refusing TO ohsy
the call to halt, and saw him dra his
revolver and point it directly. first at
corporal j. e. Truehart, Of Comnanv
a. "a, iRlcnmond, and then at Lieutenant E;
4A. Hardy. OF Company B, also OF Rtch.
nond' the officer of the guard
Regular Saw OHense.
among the eye-witnesses was SER
seant Morgan, of the United stata.
army. who is on duty with the vir.
slnia militia. First Sergeant Marcus
=. kincaid, the negro commander nf
.he uetacnment from the War College.
a.. utiil.leo that When Carroll. followed
oy the Virginians. reached his can,n
4 =
When. a little later, provost enar1
was sent from division headaua rtcrs -
convey Carroll from the First Virginia
Euard mouse to the guard house of the
ls"enty- ninth Infantry, the negro pris.
oher told the provost officer that ha
mad drawn his pistol on the oft,cers
This statement was made In the NEE.
ence OF Major Stanley w. Martin ~
Lynchburg '1li' u
Lieutenant s. R. G1eaves. command
ant am OF cadets at the Virginia Military
1nstltute, was detailed by Provost
Hiarsnai |, Boushton to conduct the pre-
slnlnary investigation. Lieutenant
Gleayes took the evidence Of the W.T.
nesses, and the statements Of the vir-
glnia. officers and men are in the hands
OF the army officials.
* Knowing the facts In the case IN
most instances because they were Wit.
nesses, the protest and petition nre
sented to Governor Mann while in
camp was signed by practically every
officer of the regiment This paper
asked the executive to request that a |
general court-martial. a tribunal vest
ca with power to inflict adequate pun
ishment. should handle the matter, in
stead of the petty court. which had
peen ordered by General Wotherspoon.
-NS-'tts, III tIllS lHet NIONer-s
nor sent communication to General
Wotherspoon asking him to let the
matter take the course toward a gem
eral court, Which meant that the War
Department would first review the
case The commanding officer, while
not at all liking the Governors ac-
hon, stopped the egcourt-martial, which
had already been begun and referred
me papers to washington,
{ Il IS presumed that inasmuch as the
negro had already heen arraigned, and
as u was supnosed that General Woth-
errspoon, being on the ground, was
ronversant with the circumstances,
the department declined to interfere.
Was With Prisoner.
( From the first General Wotherspoon
Indicated that his sympathies, We're
With the negro, and said that he would /
regret having to punish him, This was