Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-10-22
MILITIA OFFICERS AND
MEN EXONERATED BY
FINDINGS OF COURT
Gov, Brown Has Approved Yer
dict of CourtmartiaI in Hold
! ing Two Officers and Seven
PriVateS Innocent

Governor Brown Monday afternoon ap-
proved the finding of the Augusta court
martial, which acquitted and exonerated
the two officers and seven privates
charged with the shooting and killing
of three Augusta business men who
rushed the dead line established BY the
troops about the power house of the Au-
gusta Street Railway company.
Immediately after afixing his. sigma
ture to the order releasing the officers
and privates from arrest and restoring
them to duty, Governor Brown issued =
second order withdrawing martial law
from Augusta.
The officers who were courtmartialed
for the killing of the three Augustans
were Captain Thad c. Jowitt. of Com
pany B, First infantry, and Captain
James F. Henderson. of Company A.
First infantry. The seven privates. all
members of Company A, were Owen c.
Baxter. W. W. Bussey, Jr., Walter L.
Dixon. j. G. Hicks. Frank G.. Stevens.
Frederick MarkwaIter and J. H. stew
ems.
These men were all tried by a mill
tary tribunal in Augusta about ten days
ago. They were charged with the nlur-
der of Benjamin F. Baker, Kyle Dorm,
and, Robert v. Christie Baker. and Dorm
were shot while driving across the mill
tary dead line in a buggy Christie Was
proceeding into the restricted area in an
automobile.
ORDER WAS DELAYED.
Governor Brown purposely delayed his
order withdrawing the troops from Au-
gusta until after the courtmartiaI ind
ings we're approved The cases against
the men who were courtmartialed were
therefore concluded and verdicts pub
lished before the militia relinquished con
troll of Augusta. This precludes the
Gill courts from taking a hand.
At the time the governor withdrew the
troops Monday afternoon only one ON
Ger and ten men were on duty in Au-
gusta.
Following is the order Of Governor
Brown approving the verdict Of the
eourtmartial in the case of Captain Jow-
lit. Similar orders were issued in the
other eight cases:
GOVERNORS ORDER.
State Of Notwithstanding once
Atlanta. oct 81, 1912.
The proceedings, findings and acquit-
tai of the general courtmartial in the
foregoing case of Capt Thad c. Jowitt
Company B. First infantry. national
guard Of Georgia, are approved.
"a careful review of the evidence in
this case leads to the conclusion that
the unfortunate killing of these three
citizens of Augusta. Ca, was the direct
result of the lawful obedience to orders
by members Of the national guard OF
this state on duty in restoring order and
protecting property from mob vioIencs
which the civil authorities reported be-
yond their control.
when soldiers are called upon by the
civil authorities it is to be assumed that
lit is soldiers with soldiers weapons that
are needed.
These citizens met their death by re-
fusing to obey the lawful orders of the
guards to haft, and, after repeated
warnings, not to attempt to pass the
lines had been given them by civilians.
Law and order in this commonwealth
must be maintained.
Captain Jowett will be released from
arrest and restored to. duty.
JOSEPH NJ. BROWN,
s.Covernorv