The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-26

yContinued From First Page,
tent would be brought to a head
Brjsadier General John A. Huien'
commander of Houston and Harris
county. which is unoer martial iass
practically demanded the dispersal OF
r,ass meeting in the courthouse this
afternoon.
indictments Returned.
indictments were returned by the
Harris county grand jury this AFTER
NOON against forty negro soldiers OF
the Twenty-fourth infantry beileVeo
IN have been involved in the mutiny
and murders Thursday night.
when the tiitrty-four negroes
charged with murder, were released
from the county Jail at O'Clock TINS
raorninr and taken out OF the city
with other members of the twenty
fourth. District Attorney Croker de-
cided upon an investigation All
available information was laid before
the grand jury by Assistant District
Attorney Williamson. 1t was an
ro,tnced from d semi-ofiic1al source
that all soldiers held on mutiny, riot.
raiding and murder charges would De
held in San Antonio for the present.
Following a tour Of the city and
conferences with civil and military
leaders Maior-fseneral George Bell.
who arrived this morning TO command
Camn Logan. said Houston Will ne
removed from martial law tomor-
row.
Indignation is high here at the re-
n,oval of the mutineer soldiers. geo
pie Of Houston want them court-Hiaf-
tailed and executed here
rwnfnst WAR TpuaTtnseuC.
" e Mum. one of the city's' lead
3nr merchants, wrote petition 10
Secretary Baker which was eagerly
signed This is the text
Newton d Baker Secretary or war,
Washington;
I'VE the undersigned citizens OF the
city of Houston, Texas, hereby Wig
orously enter our protest to the war
denartnent of the United states OF
America against the removal or at
ternnted removal from this city OF
that number Of the negro soldiers VINO
were stationed here who on last
Thurs Law night participated In the
riot and murder OF fifteen or more
If orr citizens. including several OF
our local police and army officers ana
priyates.
1--WE demand that each and every
negro soldier who was taken up
after the military roll call Of Thurs
dav night and placed in our locai
tails or turned over to the military
authorities here, be Immediately re-
turned to Houston, Texas, and mere
Immediately tried by court martial
and If guilty that they be immediate
l., convicted and executed for the ter
rih1e crime which they in cold blood
rerpetrated upon our citizens ana the
murder of those who hacrificed their
I lives AT the hands of those negro
4 6enda The officers Of the United
state. army stationed here promised
us and the public that these negro
soldiers. criminals participating IN
/ this atrocity. would ne Immediately
executed here, but this they have
( failed to do and have and are now
attempting to remove these criminals
/ from our midst UNPUBLISHED and leave
! lis and our entire CITY and citizenship
| outraged by the fifteen or more
! hloodv murders and other atrocities
| committed by these negro soldiers.
~ - agglg..s 1s,raas''W II u
The name and honor Of the United
{ states OF America In the dust and de-
ceit nv deliberately violating the con-
sdence OF cur people In removing
these criminals unpublished. We de-
rnand the return OF these negro GRIM
| inals at once and the immediate trial
| Nv court martial and execution here
of the guilty ones"
Military Men Made Promises.
I'VE citizens risked our lives to help
round UP these men," Mr.. Mum said.
Eve were promised by the military
OFFICIALS that the accused soldiers
would be kept here for trial and ex-
! ecution. consider this action OF
| the military authorities worse than
| the negroes did. 1t has the appear
ance OF seeking to save the negroes
| punishment for their crimes.
When informed that the soldier
nrisoners had been released from the
| iaiI. Justice of the Peace Leon Lusk,
| who issued blanket warrant against
| them. said:
when a warrant was placed in the
hands OF a sheriff II was his duty to
| hold the men until they were released
! by a competent court. I have issued
! no releases The crimes alleged
against these men were committed
before martial law was declared In
/ Harris county"
! 1t lie probable that the grand jury
will Investigate the release.
Soldiers who commit civil crime:
even in time of war are amensble to
civil law" declared District Attorney
( Crocker.
United States regulars from Gai'
weston and san Antonio left here to-
day.
Did Our Part ut Houston"
I'VE did our part in Houston and
are on our way to Columbus. N. NJ
is a message alleged to have beer
dropped at Richmond today from thu
train bearing the negro soldiers from
Houston. It is now IN the hands o.
Brigadier- General Hulen. In chargt
here under martial law.
There is but one punishment fol
mutiny---it is DEATH" Major-Genera
Bell said today. It was his first state
rnent after officially taking command
of the Thirty-third army division tr
which the race riots and mutiny Of
negro troops occurred.
III the military court martial de-
termines that the negro soldiers Of
the Twenty-fourth infantry revoltet
they Will be summary executed" hi
said. Actual murder does not neces'
sarily have to be proven against them.
General Bell said there are Izc
prisoners. six additional troopers hav
ing been captured during the night.
NO one man can say what thu
cause OF the uprising was" said Gen
eral Bell "The-- are many supposi,
tions, but only a thorough investiga
ton such as is being conducted will