The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-08-26
BLACKS ESCAPING PUNISHMENT
BY MILITARY BE TRIED IN
CITY Is STATEMENT.
MARTIAL LAW ENDED
Many Funerals Cause Sorrow-Thous.
ands Pay Tribute to Memory and
Body of Capt. Mates of Illinois Ma
tional Guard, Slain by Negro Troops.

Houston. Texas Aug. 25.-Though
Houston generally breathed distinct re.
lief tonight that martial law will end
tomorrow and that the rioting negroes
OF the Twenty-fourth infantry are no
longer in position to cause further
trouble, county officials expressed re.
sentiment that the men should be taken
from their authority.
THE fact that they were removed IN
columbus ~ A., does not mean that
we Will not ultimately take a hand in
the punishment Of the blacks" said
District Attorney John II. Crooker.
Expects to Prosecute.
In my opinion, the courtmartial
which Will be given by the military au.
thorities does not abrogate the right
10 be tried by the civil authorities. Those
that escape punishment in the military
court will be prosecuted in the ca.+ts
OF Harris county"
evidence of the intention of the local
officials not to let the matter drop with
the departure Of the negro infantrynen
FOR Columbus, was contained this after.
noon in an action Of Harris county
grand jury. This body, as soon as il
learned that thirty-four negroes held in
Jail had been turned over to the army
before, daybreak, began consideration Of
the blanket charges preferred by Mr.
Crooker. In a few hours it returned
murder indictments against the thirty.
four and six others who had not been
arrested
''''u' c,,,, tAhM
Alternate sadness and gladness swaved
the Saturday crowds in downtown Hons.
ton today. There was gladness because
the tragedy had passed without any
darkening sequel, and sadness because
every other hour brought grim reminder
OF Thursdays horror in the passage OF
funeral corteges.
Thousands paid special tribute To
Captain j. w. Mates, when his casket.
placed on truck and mantled bv the
national colors. was taken 20 the sta.
ton to be sent to Chicago. Captain
Mates was shot down as he approach.
ed the scene Of the disturbance in DO.
lice officers automobile.
Indications are that there will be no
more deaths as a result OF the shooting
and that the total casualties viii stand
as they were yesterday counted. seven.
teen dead and twenty-one wounded. Two
victims lost arms by amputation and a
third must have leg taken off. How.
ever these are expected TO recover.
Collecting Data ON Tragedy.
Colonel George O. Cress. inspector.
general Of the southern department. ar.
rived today and began to collect data
on the shooting. He visited Gen. John
a. Hulen. Of the Texas national guard.
District Attorney Crooker the chief OF
police, and other authorities. Attorney
Crooker turned over TO him the state.
ments OF captured negro soldiers that
Sergeant Vida Henry, who was killed.
was the ringleader and organizer OF
the raiding expedition into Houston's
west end and San Felipe street.
a tour OF the city and conference with
General Hulen and others quickly con.
WINGED General Bell that the additional
troops rushed here from Fort sam
Houston at San Antonio and Fort
Crockett at Galveston, were no longer
needed. They We're sent back this az.
ternoon to thoir stations