Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-03-23
DEFENSE RESTS CASE ON EVIDENCE
SUBMITTED, AND AFTER SHORT
SUMMING UP, PROSECUTION
PUTS IT UP TO COURT.
COURT MARTIAL CONSIDERING CASE
AND EXPECTED TO CAST VOTE
PRIVATELY TODAY - CASE
TO GO TO FUNSTON.
Especial 10 The Herald, ,

MERCEDES. Texas, March 23.-At
ii 80 o'clock this morning the defense in
Fthe court martial trial 90 Lieutenant John
f. Mort of the Fourth Field Artillery,
rested its ease, submitting il TO the court
on its merits. After n short summing up
of the evidence by the prosecution, the
court martial adjourned until this after
noon 10 consider the ease. and when II
gathers again later in the afternoon. -i,
i expected 10 east private vote. The
result will he forwarded to Major General
Frederick Funston nj Fort Sam Houston
Little new evidence was introduced int
the hearing today. Attention was rivnt
by the defense counsel, Captain Frank II
Mccoy, 10 the charge that Lieutenant Mort
entered the home Of Mexican on the
Mexican side in searching for the missing
privates, and cndeavored 10 prove tina.
this was the home of a Mexican who for
merly had lived on the American side, but
who because of alleged connection with
bandit activities had been forced To take
up his residence on the Mexican side IL
the river.
a. an indication Of the sentiment
throughout this section in favor or Lieu
tenant Mort. Captain Frank X. Mccoy.
his counsel. yesterday was deIurtd witn
offers Of assistance from residents ~ ail
parts Of the lower Mexican border. The
ease ls generally compared with the recent
invasion Of Mexico by Colonel Herbert J.
Solcum at Columbus, n. NJ, who il 10 be-
presented with fine sword, for the pur
chase of which Texans are now raising n
fund, IN acknowledgement of his ouick and
daring action.
total of about twenty Eve witnesses
were examined during Wednesdays hear
hg' me defense during the afternoon in
PRODUCING ten Witnesses, four Of them
civilIass and federal officers, including
Customs Officers j. ID. White and Mareu4
Hines. Their testimony was mainly ~
snow me general feeling on the lower bor-
der ~ result Of the bandit outrarcs of
last summer.
Evidence was given to show that il was
the general belief on the American side Of
the river where the Fourth Field Artillery
was stationed, that the opposite bank was
poorly policed, if at all, by soldiers Of thc
ue iacto government in Mexico. and that
the district was the rendezvous for N.x;-
can bandits who conducted periodical
RAIDS INTO American territory.
The murder Of Private Richard I .Jahn
son was frequently referred ~ IN c.urv.
81 testimony, and also the fact that a,uory
me men q the Fourth Field Artillery wcrs
many who were nj Vera Cruz M thc finn.
rrvate Parks, venturing beyond r,c
American lines, was captured by Mcsiraux
ana killed. the object Of this testimony be.
ing 10 show the moral effect produced upop
.he men when the two soldiers, Biypo
federson and w. l.. Wheeler, were found
10 DC on the Mexican side, unclothed and
uhar'ncd Testimony brought out showed
mat The men of the artillery and some ~
he twelfth cavalry, detachment ~
"hich WAS also stationed al Prorre.o uh,.
crossed with Lieutenant Mort did -
Voluntarily, after Lieutenant Mort A.
nonnced that he was going over 10 re.cuc
me TWO men and invited any who wi.hcI
\" ~ ~ ~ accompany him. Witne4.e
'est'hed that orders were not given ~ ar...
superior officer ~ Lieutenant Mort M u
cross, and that Lieutenant Mort did -,
20 ~ defiance Of any superior officer.