The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-15
Negroes Hearing Pro-
ceeded With, Minus
Prosecutors.
MAYBEDEATHBLOW
TO JOI MT CA M P.S.
Virginia Officers Indignant at
Proceeding-Declare Their
Commissions Have Been
Rendered Worthless-Ver-
dict Not Yet Announc-
ed at Gettysburg.

Without witness for the presecu-
Hon, without notice TO the Virginia
officers, whose authority was dehed.
and whose lives were threatened. the
summary court in the case OF Private
Thomas Carroll, the negro soldier. has
been resumed and concluded at Gettys.
burg. The findings have been referred
camp commander, but had not been an.
nounced up to last night.
1t Is regarded as more than likely,
Judging from the expressions OF opin-
ion voiced By Virginia officers last
night, that the last Joint cncampment
mas been held. The action of the Wai
Department in putting negro troops ~
camp with Southern white soldiers,
and then dragging the commissions OF
the Southern miiitiamen in the dust,
was most severely condemned. 1t is
an open secret that Governor Mann
thinks it would be best TO let the state
troops camp by themselves. on their
own grounds, and let only the officers
go off to camps OF Instructions with
other officers or the regular army
and the National Guard
May Enter Protest.
Tho Governor was much surprised
yesterday when he heard that the
summary court had been proceedeo
with He stated that he would take
the matter up with Senator Martin.
probably with the idea or entering a
protest with the War Department 1t
is realized that since the summary
trial is concluded. the incident IS closed
so far as the punishment or the negro
Is concerned. but the principle and the
precedent, in the Governors opinion.
demand attention. While the Senator
and the Governor did not see each
other IN Richmond yesterday. II is
presumed that they discussed the mat
ter on the train on which they left the
city together
The presumption is that the aftida-
Wits taken by the officer who investi-
gated tho incident, prior to the first
order delegaupg the trial to a sum
mary court, were presented as evi-
dence. Certain 1t is tina, no Nirginian
was present to hear the evidence OF
the negro. to observe his demeanor on
the stand or TO controvert any state
ment he might choose TO make. Car.
roll doubtless had 1t all his own way.
Puzzled mt Procedure.
But the Virginia officers are asking
how 1t was done They are unable to
see how such trial could be more
than mockery. Lieutenant f. NJ.
Hardy and CorporalsJ. f. Truehart,
the men whose lives were threatened,
have always been ready to give their
evidence, before any sort of court.
Had the trial officers, 1t is pointed out,
wanted the facts in the case. they
could have got them.
To the onlooker at the camp. it was
evident from the first that the SYM
pathiess Of General Wotherspoon were
with the negro The idea was Armly
implanted in his head that the negro
race was down-trudden and abused.
and that the Virginia troops Were pur-
suing a settled policy of imposition
on the black troopers in camp. It
was this feeling. say the soldiers that
made the commanding ofricer give out
a statement regarding Virginia hood
luns, and which caused him to ex-
press regret in case he should be
obliged to punish Carroll.
Drew His Pistol.
The facts in this case are fresh In
the public mind. Carroll, who had
heen walking on the main east-west
camp road attempted to cut across
the lines Of the First Virginia Regi-
ment. He was halted by a sentry, but
the command. The Incl
dent was observed by Lieutenant r.
NJ Hardy of Company B. of Rich
mond. who instructed Corporal True
hart, of the guard. to stop the man.
The noncommissioned officer. with:
Corporal Howard. also OF Company B.
=.
negro soldier kept on his way. Lieu
roll drew his pistol before the order
his bayonet The weapon was pointed
vanced. and Carroll retreated into his
own camp. only few wards distant.
The offender was then made prison
20 with the officer. The night was
Twenty Infantry. but the next
Carroll was released on pa
role, to the surprise of the Virginians.
Negro's Testimony.
The testimony given at the trial
this week. according to a report sent
out from Gettysburg. indicated that
on account Of race prejudice the yir-
ginians with axed bayonets had chased
the colored trooper back to his camp"
AS a matter Of fact. Corporal True
hart's was the only bayonet In sight.
The Virginlans had no ball cartridges.
The negro's revolver and holster were
taken In charge by the co'ored first,
sergeant, and were not examined by
The white men So far as they knew
at the time. the weapon was loaded.
Upon charges being preferred by the
nff1cers. Lieutenant S. r. Gleaves coll
lected the evidence and presented IT
70 Provost Marshal Daniel Fl. Bough-
ton The latter, 1t was understood,
passed 1t up to General Wotherspoon
without recommendation, The latter
therevpon ordered a sxummary court
to be held. This proceeding is In the
nature Of a Justices court, capable OF
IContinued on Seventh Page,J 100