The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-09-18
FIVE MORE NEGROES
HUNG THIS MORN|N 6
|! ILITARY SENTENCE ON
HOUSTON RIOTERS CAR
RIED~OUT TODAY.

San Antonio, Texas, Sept. IL
1The FIVE negroes whose sentences to
death were pronounced by court
martial which tried them for partici-
patton in the Houston riot and
whose sentences weer approved by
President Wilson, were hanged at
Fort Sam Houston at daybreak this
morning. No civilians were allowed
Ito witness the executions which
were carried through witlA great sec
irecy.\
Those who paid the death penalty
weer all members OF Company /.
of the oath infantry. They are
Privates Babe Collier, Thomas Nc
Donald, Joseph Smith, James Rob-
inson, and Albert D. Wright.
The men were convicted at court
martial conducted in October, 1917,
at which Brig. Gen. George X. Hunt
er was president.
Ten other members of the 24th
who were sentenced TO be hanged by
the court martial, were granted a
communication of sentence TO life I'M
prisonment by President Wilson.
They were taken to Fort Leaven-
worth prison Tuesday morning to
begin serving their sentences. They
are members OF |, X, and NJ com
panies of the oath infantry.
The execution OF the live negroes
was conducted under strict military
discipline without any outside
knowledge. The condemned mel
were informed Jew days ago tina
the president had affirmed thei
sentences and were told to prepare.
for the execution Tuesday morn
ing. A company OF the Third in
fantry and troop OF cavalry was
thrown around the cavalry guard
house Monday afternoon. Shortly
before daybreak this morning the
prisoners were conducted, under
heavy guard and in trucks, to the
secret place OF eXecutiop. They
were permitted to have few min
utss with chaplain and were then
hanged
The hanging was business-like
affair, devoid OF any frills.
Announcement OF the execution
was made at 9 O'Clock this morning
. BY Brig. Gen. : A. Ryan, command
er OF Fort Sam Houston. Genera
Ryan said the executions were with
out unusual incidents.
The five negroes were tried anC
announcement OF the sentences o
death made last October. lnfliction
OF the death penalty was withheld
pending review OF the case in Wash
ington. While the records were be-
ing reviewed third courtmartial
was conducted and ten other mem
ibers OF the regiment were sentenced
TO death, others being sentenced to
imprisonment. President Wilson in
reviewing the findings commuted
the sentences of the ten who were
tried at the last court. approving
rhe sentences OF five tried at the sec
ond court.
Through an error in announcing
the presidents decision, it had been
stated that the president had re-
viewed the death sentence in six OF
the cases. General Ryan said today
he had noted the newspaper state
mentS, but that he had checked the |
records carefully and the president !
had approved the death sentence in
only five cases, committing the SEN
Fence in ten.
The five negroes executed today
were convicted OF killing f. NJ
Jones, a Houston citizen, who was
shot during riot last year. They
were also convicted OF mutiny and |
OF marching on the city oil Houston
ITO the injury OF persons and prop
erty."
Jones was shot near Camp Logan
when the rioting negro soldiers first
LETT the camp Tor q march down
town.
The ten whose sentences were
commuted were charged with caus-
ing the death OF Capt. J. w. Mates
OF the Second Illinois field artillery.
who was killed while trying to halt
rhe rioters, and OF causing the death
of three civilians, also of disobeying
u command OF Maj. X S. Snow,
Third battalion commander, when
ordered not to leave the camp. The
president announced in his commu-
tation of the sentence to life inpris-
that it had not been shown
that they had personally caused the
death of any individual.