The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-25
MORE Than 100
PRISONERS TO
FACE CHARGES
Thirty-four Prisoners Are
Taken From Hands of
Civil Authorities
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
RESENTS ACTION
Battalion of Colored Sol
diers Leaves Houston
For Columbus, n. M.

Houston, Aug. 25.-The fate of
more than one hundred negro sold
iers who Thursday night shot up San
Felice street and the west end of
Houston with a total of II deaths to-
day is in the hands of the military
Notwithstanding the action Of Dis
trict Attorney John Cooker In filing
murder charges against thirty-four
of the men.
The battalion of the gath infantry
which included the shooters early
today returned to its old station at
Columbus, New Mexico. Major Gem
eral George Bell. Jr.. who arrived this
morning from San Antonio, and took
command indicated there was slight
possibilities OF any OF the men be-
ing returned here for civil trial
II assume" he said. that local
authorities will seek to try the men
against whom charges have been
fled. However, their disposition is
in the hands OF the military. They
will be court martialed."
This morning when District Attor-
ney Crooker, heard that during the
night the negroes confined in the
Harris county jail had been removed
and sent to Columbus with their
comrades he said.
II danst think they wopid have
taken them away 10 e1sitg IL ! had
been in court TO issue the warrant
against them"
General Bell said he could not now
say when or where the court martial
will be.
"Mutiny in times of war is punish
able by DEATH" he continued. MUIR
n -uH lee - =
penalty. Punishment will be dealt
disturbance promptly and effective
ly"
II am not prepared to speak of the
causes of Thursday nights trouble," /"
General Bell said.
Houston today gave no external
evidence of the tragedy save for
presence Of armed guards on street
cars and throughfares Of the city.
Houston, Texas, Aug. 25.-The me-
gro soldiers of the Twenty fourth
infantry who Thursday night took
part in the shooting in the streets
that killed seventeen persons were
taken from here early today and
started towards Columbus, New
Mexico. Among them are thirty
four men charged by District Atty.
John II. Crocker, with murder.
The entire 633 members Of the bat
TALON which came here four weeks
ago to guard Camp Logan, during
construction, were entrained by day.
break and shortly after the train
section bearing them steamed west
ward without incident.
With the arrival today of Major
General George Bell, Jr., investiga-
tion of the shooting which Thursday
night caused the death of seventeen
persons was scheduled to begin.
The departure of Major X. S.
Shows battalion for Columbus, New
Mexico, appreciably lessened the
tension in Houston although from
the hour the authorities took firm
hold of the situation there has been
little fear Of any serious trouble.
Major Snow did not accompany
the battalion as he had been detailed
as major in the national army camp
at Fort Smith, Ark.
Major Snow said late last night
that while no charges had been pre-
ferred against the men who march =
ed through the San Felipe district
shooting right and left they might
be very serious"
The contents of his official report
to Major General James Parker at
Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio,
were not given out here.
Houston will be removed from
law tomorrow. This was the
announcement Of Major General
George Bell, Jr., this afternoon after