Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-07-30
|0FF|CfR DISMISSED
 WITH D|Sh0NOR Capt. Hickey of Company G, Jonesboro, Stripped
 of Uniform. BY GOVERNORS s ORDER NenMis of Company Pun;icIy Repri. handed fG.. Their Par! in
 Riot at tnrdyce.
BY GOVERNORS ORDEB,

AS a result of the investigation of the race riot which occurred at Fer dyce, Ark, Saturday started by four companies of the Arkansas State Guard, who had stopped in Fordyce to be transferred from the Cotton Belt to the Rock Island, en route to the annual encampment, Captain Hickey, of Company c of Jonesboro, Was dishonGTably discharged yester- day by the members of the company publicly reprimanded by General B. w. Green of the State Guard and Governor George w. Donaghey, who arrived ill Fordyce in the morning at l0:1o o'clock to conduct an inquiry into the affair.
 The Governor spent practically the entire day Investigating the affair. Sherif Benton and a committee of representa- i've citizens appeared be- fore him and gave information con- corning the reprehensible conduct of the soldiers. The investigation showed that the greater number of troops of Company G derained at lFordyce in an intoxicated condition, among whom was Capta Il Hickey, and proceeded to raid a negro pool hall and a negro dance hall, driving the occupants away and demolishing the places. Evidence was introduced to show that no less than fourteen were as- saulted by the troops. Frank Nc Kinney was stabbed in the back and Henry Tidwell was beaten to uncon- sciousnesS. Both are negroes.
 The governor also directed his in qu ry with reference 10 the attitude eff Captain Hickey as to whether he attempted to assist the civil author tics in subluing the rowdy soldiers. It was shown that, the captain knew of the outrages committed by his men but refused to aid the sheriff and hs deputies.
 After the inquiry the governor sated that he was satisfied that the outrages committed were inexcusable and a positive violation of the crim- nal laws, Of the state. He said he believed, however, that it would be very difficult for the civil authorities to apprehenI the offenders but that as commander-in-c n-chief of the Arkan- sas National Guard i. was his duty under the evidence adduced to order C3pta Hickey, Of Company G, Jonesboro stripped of his uniform and given dishor orable discharge.
 Acting unler this order ',he troops of Company G were lined up on the Rock Island right of way and Gen eral B. w. Green publicly announced the dishonorable discharge of Capt. Hickey and repr manded the entire oon,rany in cpvftaT terms.
 Governor Donaghey then addressed the troops, saying in part:
 "Gentlemen. the duty of soldier is very high and honorable one. Yeu as members of the Arkansas Ma tional Guard are called upon at all times to uphold the dignity and non or of the great state of Arkansas. IL is yorw positive duty to conserve the d gnity and honor of the state at all times, even at the cost Of your lives if necessity. I have made an inves- tigation of the outrsg ges committed unon the citizenship of Fordyce on Sa urday evening and ] am convlncea that you are in part responsible Tor these outrages. It $ the established rule of military law tha. command ing officer is responsible for the conduct of hi1 troops. Your captain has failed to deliver the guilty parties to the civil authorities and for ms failure and reprehensible conduct he must suffer fer the sins of you all. | Ard while you go on to the encamp- mem. I want you to remember that vour captain goes home stripped o1 his uniform and disgraced by dls- honorable discharge for his fa lure to nerform the duties of an officer Ill his position"
 The Governors speech deeply af- footed the troops and many of them were in tears when he concluded.
 The troops left on special tran over the .@ock Isalnd at 6:45 yester- day afternoon for Alexanderia.