El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-11-03
NEGRO Rioters
ARE IDENTIFIED
Captain of 24th Infantry
Proves Positive Witness
in COurtmartial.


san Antonio. Tex. nov. 5.-Consid-
T cradle progress is being made In the
court martial trial OF GO negro sol
diers Of the 2fth L. s infantry,
charged with mutluy and murder in
I connection with Houston riots last
August O.
Positive Identification OF three ne
Eroes was made yesterday afternoon
by Capt Haig Shekerjian of the oath
I infantry. The Identification was made
Z in connection with q detailed nara
tive Of events leading up TO the riot
ing.
The three negroes who were ideni-
I fled were Corp. j. R Hawkins, Corp.
G. Brown and Pvt Ira Davis. They
I were among the defendants in the
/ ton according TO Capt ShekerJian's
| testimony was precipitated by the ac-
{ ton Of policeman Sparks of Houston
. in abusing Corp. Charles Baltimore.
OF the oath infantry when Sparks ar
rested him on the afternoon preceding
the outbreak At the time OF 8altl-
mOre's arrest the witness testified.
Baltimore was on military police cuty
and wore police badge that was
plainly visible TO policeman Sparks
Abuse Of baltimore
The trouble started. Capt Sheker-
Jan testified when Baltimore asked
policeman Clarke why he had arrest
ed negro Soldier. Baltimore, accord
ing TO Sherkerjian, said Sparks
"cussed him" and told him Il was
none OF his business Baltimore then
told Sparks that he was on guard duty
commanding officer why the soldier
had been arrested. To this. according
to the witness. Sparks replied he DID
not have 10 tell "a niger and mt
him on the head twice with his pistol
Baltimore then ran down the street
while sparks fired three shots after
him. Baltimore was captured and
taken TO Jail
Policeman is Suspended.
Meantime the report reached Camp
Logan. where the negro troops were
stationed that Baltimore had been
shot and killed Capt Sheker1ian tes-
titled that Mai X s snow sent him
into the city 20 investigate the report
He went 20 police headquarters where
he conferred with chief OF police
Brock. Both Baltimore and sparks
told their stories OF the incident II
the chiefs office. ShekerJian testiieo,
and 10 was agreed at police headquar-
tiers that Sparks was at fault Sparks
was then suspended
Informed All First serEeants.
Capt Shekertian then said he took
Baltimore TO camp where he called all
the first serEeants into his tent and
told them Of the incidents, explaining
that Sparks would be properly pun
ished and instructed the nOncOmmis-
stoned officers 20 explain the stu
alton fully 10 the men at retreat
Mai. Snow had previously Cancelled al
passes for the night, he said
Seemed 10 Think Mob Coming.
shekerjian then detailed the hap
penings IN camp later In the evening p
telling Of Learning that the negro sol
diers were obtaining ammunition and
OF his effort 10 restore order.
The soldiers he said, seemed pos
sessed with the idea that q mob Of
Houston civilians were coming TO the
camp TO shoot them
Captain Is Knocked Down
Men, nobody can come into this I
camp to harm you unless Il is over I
me-" Shekerlian said he told them
" we are tired Of this. We viii T.
take the law into our own hands, I
one negro shouted, the captain test- Z
fled
At this juncture. shekerjian testi- I
fled, somebody knocked me over. I I
got up. pulled my flashlighr and I
threw il in the face Of the man whose Z
face impressed me. Drop that light /
or I viii put a hole through you" he I
commanded me put out the lBnL /
Identifies Ira Davis.
Here the captain pointed out Ira Z
Davis negro seated among the de- J
PENDANTS as the man he referred to. 7
Col J. A. Hull, Judge advocate con- 1
Quoting the prosecution, said. Ira I
Davis arise" The negro Shekerjian 4
had pointed out arose, visibly nerv- |
GUS. He then was commanded 10 sit T!
down.
Negroes Broke Toward Town.
1T all happened faster than I can 4
tell you Men began firing. There I
was too much noise for them 70 hear 4
my commands 10 stop.
About this time I heard some one /
yell TO H. with going TO Francei :
Let's 20 clean up that. d. city," I
The negroes then started toward town 4
he said
Checked Up On Men.
Capt Shekerjian then told OF his go
ing about the camp and checking up I
on the men 10 see who was missing.
He submitted lists Of the names he ]
obtained.
Asked how much ammunition the .
negroes took out Of camp the captain I
Ieplied that $1,000 rounds was taken I
from / company ammunition tents. \
500 rounds from L company and 1000 I
rounds from n company.
i Identified Corp J. r Hawkins
when he returned 10 camp the next
that the corporal was searched and ]
a quantity of ammunition found in his
leEgingS He was Immediately put in 4
the guard house. Hawkins up for
Qualification.