Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-10-11
LONGOR|AS ARE
RELEASED, BOND
FIXED AT $25
GALVESTON RANCH MEN HELD TO
GRAND JURY BY JUSTICE GA
VITO IN SMALL BOND.
LITTLE EVIDENCE IS INTRODUCED
TO ImPLIcATE TWO MEN IN
MURDER CHARGE.

Bentruo and Daniel Longoria. the two
residents Of the Galveston ranch who
were charged with the murder Of Private
Arthur Kratts Of Troop 4. Twelfth United
States cavalry. following the battle be-
tween detachment of this troop and n
band of Mexican bandits on the morning
Of September IL. today were held 10 the
grand jury by Justice of the Peace Valen-
tin Gavito under bond in the sum Of S25.
The hearing was continued from last week
Had il been within the province Of jus
tice court To take such action in n murder
charge case. II j. probable that Justice Ga
vito would have dismissed the case on the
showing made at the continuation Of the
hearing today.
The complaint on which the Longorias
were arraigned l. an outgrowth Of the bat
tie between soldiers and bandits fought at
the Galveston ranch on September 13.
During the battle Private Arthur Krafts
and Trumpeter Harold b. Forney Of the
Twelfth cavalry were fatally wounded and
Sergeant Walsh was seriously and per
hapS fatally wounded The complaint was
made upon statement from Sergeant
Walsh To officers to the effect that he saw
firing from the house where the Longoria~
lived A. Walsh j. still in the hospital ~
Fort Sam Houston. San Antonio. the state
has not been able to get hi> testimony
81 this mornings hearing the defense
placed Captain George j. Head and Mrs
Josiah Turner mother and grandmother of
the respective defendants. on the stand
Captain Head stated that he had visited
the scene of the shooting twice. once a.
y deputy under Sheriff W. T. Nann on the
day of the fight. and once last week
Captain Head testified that he had gone
over the ground thoroughly at both visits
and he had found no evidence of shots
having been fired from the house. The wit
ness said that he. in company with two
army officers. had visited the position oc-
cupied by the soldiers engaged in
the combat and that the she'd and
tree under which the soldiers were
camped although marked with bullet sears.
have no marks which could have been made
BY shots from the house. The witness
further stated that an examination Of the
ranch house showed where il had been
struck by between - and 100 1890 bull
lets which struck the walls on both sides of
the front door The house contained no
marks of bullets from army model rifles
Mrs. Turner said that during the night
Of the fight and during the fighting both
BY her and that when the firing com
menced she instructed them To lie down
on the floor and that al no time during the
shooting did either of them leave the room
The witness stated that Daniel wanted to
20 ont and help the soldiers but that she
would not let him ~ She was afraid he
wiuld be killed. Mrs. Turner said that
neither she nor the defendants knew that
the fight was To occur and that before 10
o'clock, at which time the family retired.
house having music.
The witness testified that there were two
men. one house servant and the other Il
visitor sleeping in the ranch house kitchen
and that she did not see either of them
until after the shooting was over. Mrs
Turner testified that after the fight was
oyer Daniel left the house and took
whiskev coffee. cots and pillows to the
wounded soldiers. The witness stated that
she was too frightened to know whether or
not the houSe was struck by bullets