Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-12-15

tall years. Three were sentenced to
BIZ aishonorably discharged from the
army, forfeit all pay and allowances
aid be confined at hard labor for two
years.
Announcement Of the executions
was made at headquarters Of tho
Southern Department at 0 a. NJ. Only
army officers and Sheriff John Tobin
OF BeXar county were present when
the sentence was carried out by SOL
diers from the post.
COURTMARTIAL FINDINGS.
Tho announcement from headuuar-
tiers was as follows:
Ihe proceedings, findings and SEN
fences of the general court-martial
which tried siXty-three members OF
the Twenty-fourth Infantry for their
implication in the riots at Houston,
Tex, August %, 1917, were approved
by the commanding General, South
orn Department, December 10, 1917.
! THE sentences for the court were
as follows:
I'm the cases of (here follow names
OF men hangedD, to be hung by the
neck until dead.
In the cases Of Cook William Fra
zicr, Cook Nathan Eumphries. Jr.,
prlVates, first class, John NJ. Hudson.
Jr., James r. johnson, Ben McDan
iels and Stewart w Phillips. all Of
Company I; Privates Douglas II. Boil
den, Fred Brown, Robert Brownneld.
Harrison Capers, Ben Cecil, Gerald
Dixon, Henry Green, James r. Haw-
klns, George Hobbs, Norman D. Hol.
land, Richard Lewis, Leroy Pinkett,
Joseph Wardlow, William S. Kane.
Harry Richardson, Luther Rucker.
Roy Tyler, Joseph Williams, Jr., ali
Oh Company l; Privates Ernest Ad-
ans, John Adams, Wash Adams,
Douglass X. Lumpkins, Richard
Brown. all Of Company X; Privates
Allie G. Butler, Abner Davis and
George II. Parham of Company t.:
Bngler Ruben W. Baxter, Company
M; Privatcs Walter Burkett, James
Cocker, Callie Glenn, William Hough,
Thomas Jackson, Walter II. Johnson,
Dean New, Jesse Sullivan, all of Com.
pany M, all OF the Twenty fourth
united States Infantry, in each event
to be dishonorably discharged from
tho service, to forfeit all pay and al
loWances due and to be confined Mt
nara labor at such place as the re-
viewing authority may direct for the
. term Of his natural life.
IN the case OF Private Oliver
rletcher, Company NJ, Twenty-fourth
united States Infantry, to be dishon.
orably discharged from the service.
10 forfeit all pay and allowances due
ana to be confined at hard labor az
such place as the reviewing author
lty may direct for two years and six
months.
In the cases Of Private Henry IT.
walls, Company; Private (first
class) Alvin Pugh, Company I, and
Private Walter B. tucker, Company
l, all Of the Twentyfourth United
States Infantry, and each of them to
be dishonorably discharged from the
service, to forfeit all pay and allow
ances due and to be confined at hard
labor, at such place as the reviewing
authority may direct for two years
ONLY FIVE MEN ACQUITTED.
ITO be acquitted. Privates William
Is. Beacoat, Grover Burns, COMPANY
l; Grant H. Mems, Company X:
Bursh l.. Smith, Company l., and
Ierry Smith, Company M, all OF tho
Iwenty-fourth Uniteo States Infan.
try.
The forty.sixth article of war NIL
thoriZed department commanders in
time of war to carry into execution
sentences Of death without reference
to higher authority.
rhose named above as sentenced
to death were hanged on the military
reservation at Fort Sam Houston at
TIT O'Clock A. M, December II, 1917
1.-THE execution was carried out I'M
der charge Of guard furnished by
the troops at Fort Sam Houston.
"The remains were Inferred near
the place Of execution.
Those named above sentenced TO
confinement for life will be sent to
the United States penitentIary at
Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Those sen.
fenced to confinement for q number
OF years will be sent to the United
States disciplinary barracks at Fort
Leavenworth, Kan.
Those acquitted will be released
from confinement and sent to join
their regiment"
WAR DEPARTMENT UNADVISED.
Tho hanging Of thirteen Negro
troopers for completely in the Hous.
ton riot was unknown to practically
all officials of the War Department
until it was announced at Fort Sam
Houston. Doubtless the death sem
tence Of the court-martial and the
preparations for the executions were
known to few high officials, but so
far as can be learned the depart
mental commander carried out the
executions rs routine affair, as he
Is WARRANTED to do in time Of war and
VIII report in formal manner later.
We're the country at peace tho exc.
cutions would have required the ap-