Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-11-23
HABEAS CORPUS FOR
RELEASE Of MEN IN
THE HOUSTON RIOT
KANSAS DEFENSE SOCIETY TO
TAKE UP CASES OF SOLORED
SOLDIERS SENTENCED
by TIIII MILITARY
TRIBUNAL.

The Kansas Defense Society Is an
organization instituted for tho pur-
@oso OF testing tho constitutional
HtGhts OF the race along civil, politi-
cal and other lines that may be
necessary to bring about justice and
sentiment in behalf Of tho race in
this country. This organization was
formed because Of tho conviction and
legal lynching Of tho thirteen soldiers
of the Gath Infantry at Fort Sam
Houston, Texas, last December, 1917,
for participating in Il riot at Houston
Texas, in August OF the same year.
IT. will be remembered that these
soldiers were acting in self defense
from the fact that they had been mis-
treated and assaulted by tho police Of
Houston and it had been reported to
them that Il mob Of white men had
threatened to swoop down upon their
camp and drive them out. Acting on
this information tho soldiers prepared
themselves, and receiving orders
from on-commissioned officers that
the mob was descending upon them,
they began to fire and at the same
time marching upon tho town which
action resulted in the death of sew
eral persons.
They were taken to Fort Sam
Houston, dsarmcd and through tho
policy OF Texas officers investigation
was started, and some weak minded
soldiers from the South who had
been in tho service only few
months were induced to turn states
evidence on Il promise OF immunity.
From what we have read Of the trial
1t seems that this was n kangaroo
court and the men were never fairly
tried.
There have been three court mar
tials. SiXty-threc soldiers were tried
in the first, which resulted in the
hanging Of thirteen without their
cases ever being reviewed by Prcsi.
dent Wilson. Forty others were
sent to the Federal prison for life,
and the remaining ten were disposed
of in various ways. Three or four
were sent to military prison, and 4
few were given Jail sentences. a
second court martial resulted in tho
conviction of sixteen, which sentences
President Wilson has just approved.
This makes a total Of nineteen brave
colorcd soldiers to DO executed for
participation In tho Houston riots.
Tho evidence shows that this riot
at Houston occurred in tho night
when it was very dark and 1t was
impossible to tell who wero taking
part. These soldiers were convicted
upon circumstantial evidence given
by soldiers forced to testify as they
did on account Of fear or promises
made them for their own safety.
Under rules of tho court martial
all evidence and findings must be sub
mitted to the President Of the United
States. and this was not done in the
case Of these soldiers, but their SEN
fences were approved by the COM
mandcr OF tho southern department.
This being true, these mon are being
illegally held in the federal prison
and should be given their liberty.
The Kansas Defense Society, Of
which Nick Chiles is president, has
employed three colored attorneys to
bring habeas corpus proceedings in
the United States District Court, and
If necessary will carry this case to
the highest court in the land.
Attorney IT. w. Bell, one of the lead
ing lawyers Of Kansas, located at
Leavenworth; T.. II. Barbour OF Eel
Reno, Oklahoma, and Elisha Scott,
young attorney of Topeka, have
been employed and the case, No. 1898
was fled at Topeka, Kansas in the
United States District Court, Friday,
October 4, 1913.
We are now asking the public and
friends OF tho race to contribute as
much as they can afford to assist us
to properly prosecute this case. We
have consulted several lawyers OF
prominence, and they all agree that
this case can be won, and the Kansas
Defense Society, believing this to be
true, has employed these attorneys.
AS editor Of the Topeka Plaindealer,
a newspaper published in the interest
Of the race, we feel that it is our duty
to take up all matters Of this kind.
Our people have been bartered, bar
gained, and sold by members OF tho
race, and cruelty, numerically, and
maliciously assaulted by the white
rare long enough
When we think Of the East Saint
Louis riot, the hanging Of these
nineteen soldiers, and the brutal
1ynching of a colored woman by a
Georgia mob few weeks ago, it is
enough to make tho beasts Of the
forest froWn, to say nothing Of the
effect it would have upon human
being. This woman, who was so
heartlessly treated, was about to be.
come a mother, and she was hanged
by her feet and split open with a
sharp instrument, and the babe
dropped from her and was stamped
10 ueltn ny some Hlo1nDer OF the
mob. Tt is q shame and disgrace
upon Christian civilization to have
such things exist in this country, ana
some methods should DO used to hire
detectives and officers to run down
these lynchers and bring them to
Justice.
AS aforesaid. the Kansas Defense
Society is soliciting funds to be used
in this case and any one desiring tc
help will write NICK CHILES. Pres
ident Of the Kansas Defense Society
Editor and Owner Of The Topeka
Plaindealer, Topeka, Kansas.