Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-26
HOUSTON RESENTS
. ACTION BY MILITARY
Negroes Who Took Part in Fatal
Riotng Removed by Army
Authorities.
CIVIL OFFICIALS WANT THEM
Authorities Not to Let Matter
Drop With Departure
of Troops.
CIVIL OFFICIALS WANT THEM
Iny Associated Preml

departure of the rioting negroes Of the
Twenty-f fourth Infantry for Columbus.
n. NJ. and the announcement that mar
tial law will be lifted tomorrow, COM
bined tonight to dissipate the tension
existing since tho events Of Thurs
day night.
Evidence Of tho intention of the To-
cal officials not to let the matter drop
with the departure Of the negro troops
was shown In the action Of the grand
jury OF Harris County to-day. which.
following the announcement that thir-
ty-four negroes held in Jail had been
turned over to the military, returned
murder indictments against the thirty
four, and six others who had not been
arrested. The casualty list stands a.
seventeen dead and twenty-one wound
ed. Two victims lost arms by ampu-
tation and third will suffer loss OF
leg.
Colonel George o. Cress. inspector
general of the Southern Department.
arrived to-day from San Antonio, and
began to collect data on the riotins.
He held conferences with local Of
ficials and with General Hulen. of the
Texas National Guard. District At
torney Croker turned over to him tn.
statements of the captured soldiers
that Sergeant Vida Henry. who was
killed, was the ringleader of the riot
era.
ADDITIONAL TROOPS
NO LONGER NEEDED
A tour OF the city and conferences
with General Hulcn and others quickly
convinced General Bell that the addi
tional troops rushed here from Fort
Sam Houston. at San Antonio, and
Fort Crockett. at Galveston. were no
longer needed. They were sent back
to their stations late to-day.
When II became generally known
that the negroes who participated In
the riots had been turned over to
army authorities. county officials OK
pressed resentment that tho men should
have been taken from, their authority.
The fact that they were removed
to Columbus does not mean that We
will not ultimately take a hand In the
punishment of the negro soldiers" said
District Attorney John n. Croker.
In my opinion. that court-martial
which will be given by the military
authorities does not abrogate the right
to trial by the civil authorities. Those
that escape punishment in the military
court Will be prosecuted in the courts
Of Harris County,"
FEELING OF RELIEF
MINGLED WITH SADNESS
feeling of relief mingled with sad
ness swayed the crowds in downtown
Houston to-day. There was relief that
the tragedy had passed without any
darkentnS sequel. and sadness because
every hour brought grim reminder Of
Thursday nights horror in the passage
of funeral corteges
Thousands paid special tribute to
Captain ]. w. Mates. when his casket.
placed on truck and mantled by the
colors, was taken to the station to be
sent to Chicago.
Captain Mates was shot down as he
approached the scene of the disturb
ance in police officers automobile.
The battalion Of the Twenty-fourth
Infantry. members Of which ran amuck
land shot up" the west end of Houston,
entrained early to-day for it's former
station at Columbus. N. NJ. and Major
General George Bell, Jr., who arrived
and took command OF the situation.
indicated that there was slight posi-
otlity of any OF the men being returned
for civil trial.
Il assume" General Bell said, that
the local authorities will seek to try
the men against whom charges have
been filed. However. their disposition
is in the hands of the military. They
will be court-martialed"
General Bell declined to discuss
plans for court-martiaL He went to
Camp Logan to confer with Major
Snow shortly before noon.
Houston to-day gave little external
evidence OF the occurrence, save for
the presence OF armed guards on street
cars and in the thoroughfares.
District Attorney Croker said when
he heard that the thirty-four negroes
confined in the Harris County Jail had
been removed: II don't think thav
would have taken them away SO easily
II had been the court to issue the
warrants against them"
BELL PROMISES PROMPT
PUNISHMENT TO MEN
Later General Bell said: Punish
ment will be dealt out to those mar.
ticipating in the disturbance promptIv
and. effectively. I am not prepared IN
speak Of the causes OF Thursday
nights trouble. 1t Is to be assumed.
though, that the negroes thought that
oohie one hao sIiShted them In some
way. The Twenty-fourth has had a
hne army record. At Columbus they
behaved themselves"
Immediately after news was obtained
that the thirty-four negroes had been
turned back to the military authori-
ties the Harris County grand jury be-
gan investigating the action of Sheriff
M F. Hammond in giving up the
prisoners. Justice Leon Lusk. who
issued blanket murder warrant
against the thirty-four. said to-day:
want 1t understood that I issued
no release for these men, and have
given no one authority to release them
The crimes they committed took place
before martial law was declared"
Telegrams were sent to tho Texas
congressional delegation to-day by
citizens, stating that tho negro COM
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