Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-08-26
Soldiers Who Went on Rampage and Slew " are
 Taken to Columbus.
34 ARE ACCUSED IN
 MURDER TRUE BILL
Alternate Sadness and GIadness SWays Crowd as Funeral COrteges of Victims Pass, and Realization
 Comes That Trouble Is Over.

Houston, Tex, Aug. 25.-Tho Hous- ton generally breathes distinct relief tonight that martial law will end to- morrow and that he rioting negroes of the TWenty-fourth Infastry are no longer in a position to cause further trouble, county officials expressed resentment that the men should have been taken from the jurisdiction of the civil authorities here.
 "The fact that they were removed to Columbus, N. M., does not mean that we will not ultimately take hand in the punishment of the black soldiers,' said District Attorney John H. Crooker. "In my opinion, the courtmartial which will be given by the military authorities does not ab- rogate the right to trial by the civil authorities. Those that escape pun ishment in the military court will be prosecuted in the courts of Harris county"
 Indictments Against 34.
 Evidence of the intention of the To- cal officials not to let the matter drop with the departure f-the infantrymen for Columbus, was contained today in the action of the Harris county grand jury, which returned murder indictment against 34 negroes held in jail who were turned over to the army before daybreak, and six others who had not been arrested.
 Alternate sadness and gladness swayed the Saturday crowd in the downtown district today. There was gladness because the tragedy had been passed without darkening se- quel, and sadness because every other hour brought grim reminder Of Thursday nights horror in the pas sage of funeral corteges. Thousands raid special tribute to Capt. J. w. Mates when his casket borne on a truck and mantled by the colors, was taken to the station to be sent to Chicago.
 Indications are that there will be no more deaths as a result of the shooting and that the total casualties will stand as they were repOrted-l7 dead and 21 wounded. TWO victims lost arms by amputation, and third must have a leg taken off.
 General Bell In Command.
 General Bell said this morning that he WAS little acquainted with the sit uation.
 "I came here to take command, and while I will look into the situation, considered that practically all the in' formation that can he had has been attended to-"
 He added that it would be impos- sible for him to discuss plans for the courtmartial or to say where it would take place. He continued, though: . "Mutiny in time of war is punish able by death. Murder at all times involves the death penalty. Punish ment will be dealt out to those par 'ticipating in the disturbance promptly and effectively"
 The general refused to comment on the statement of Capt. K. IS. Snow, the commander of the negro battalion, that conditions in Camp Logan Thurs day night was practically mutiny.' He went to Camp Logan at II o'clock to talk with Captain Snow. who had been ordered detached from the negro battalion prior to the shooting, to join the national army at Little Rock, ArK.
 Captain Snow, in the regular army, was senior captain of the battalion.
 "I am not prepared to speak or the causes of Thursday nights trouble" General Bell said, in answer to question. 'It is to be assumed, tho, that the negroes thought that some one had slighted them in Some way. The Twenty-fourth has had fine ~army record None of these men were implicated in the Brownsville trouble. At Columbus they behaved them selves"
 Houston today gave no external, ,evi- dence of the tragedy through which it had passed, save for the presence of armed guards on street corners and in the thoroughfares of the city. Business went on as usual and with quiet thoroughly restored.