The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-08-25
MURDER CHARGE
LODGED AGAINST
THIRTY NEGROES
$ offending Troops Are Sent From
mp Houston to Columbus,
g r. New Mexico
:. INVEST
TI0N OF
SHOL
NG Is STARTED
+ Departure of Ri
Causes Tension t.,
e Re-
Houston. Anr C5 Tho nd

Houston, Aug. 25.-The ne.
diers of the Gath infantry, WHO SOL
day night took part in the shoos.
in the streets that killed II persons
were taken from here early today and
started toward Columbus, N. NJ
Among them are "a mon charged by
District Attorney Ccocker with mur
der.
The entire C33 menlb ers OF the bat
talon, who came here four weeks ago
to guard Camp Logan during coastruc.
ton, were entrained at daybreak and
shortly after the train section Tearing
them steamed westward without Incl.
dent.
Houston will be removed from mar.
tial law tomorrow. This was the an.
nouncement Of Major General George
Fell, Jr, today after he had toured
the city and conferred with city of.
ficials and national guard officers re-
garding the situation following the ri.
oting Of Thursday night, which result
ed in II deaths.
Situation Under Control.
General Bell decided the situation
was so we'll in hand that this after.
noon, he sent back to San Antonio,
the battalion of the 18th infantry,
brought here yesterday, and also or
dered to Galveston the $50 men OF
the Coast Guards rushed from there
Thursday night.
Release Men.
Immediately after news was obtain.
ed that the 81 negroes held in the
county Jail had been turned back to
the military authorities, Harris coun.
ty officials began an investigation.
The matter was called to the grand
jury's attention by Lawrence Willim-
son, assistant district attorney, act
ing under instructions from Mr.
Crocker. The jury investigated not
only the murder charges brought
against the negroes, but also the ac.
tion Of Sheriff Hammond in giving up
the custody of the prisoners.
Justice Lusk's Statement.
Justice Lusk, who issued blanket
murder warrant against thirty-fOur
men, said:
81 want it distinctly understood
that ] 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. "
With the arrival today of Major
General George Bell, Jr., investiga-
tion of the shooting was scheduled to
begin.
The departure of Major X. S. Shows s
battalion for Columbus, N. NJ, appre-
ciably lessened the tension in Hous-
ton, although from the hour the au-
thOrities took hold of the situation,
there has been little fear of any seri-
Gus trouble
Major Snow did not accompany the
battalion, as he had been detailed ma
ior in the national army camp at Ft.
Smith, Ark. Major Snow said late last
night that while no charges had been
preferred against the men they might
be made, and il SO, might be very
serious"
The contents of his official report to
Major General James Parker at TT.
Houston, San Antonio, was not given
out here.
The fate Of more than 100 negro SOL
diers who yesterday night shot up
San Felipe street on the west end
of Houston, with total Of II dead,
today is in the hands Of the military
Notwithstanding the action of District
Attorney Dan Crocker in filing mur-
der charges against "a oi them.
The battalion of the Gath infantry,
which included the shooters, early to.
day returned to its old station at Co.
lumbus, N. M. Major General George
Bell, Jr., who arrived this morning
from San Antonio and took command,
indicated there was slight possible
ties, if am, Of the men being returned
here for civil trial.
To Be Court Martiaied.
81 assume" he said, that local au-
thorities will seek to try the men
against whom charges have been filed.
However, the disposition is in the
hands of the military. They will be
court martialed.'
This morning when District Attor-
ney Crocker heard that during the
night the search for negroes confined
in the Harris county Jail had been
removed and sent to Columbus with
their comrades, he said:
81 don't think they would have TAX
en- them away so easily if | had been
in court to issue the warrant against
them"
Death Penalty.
General Bell said he could not now
say when or where the court martial
will be held.
"Mutiny in time of war is punish
able by DEATH" he continued. "Mur-
der at all times involves the death
penalty. Punishment will be dealt out
Continued on Page Three.)