Show NEGROES NEGROES' DEATH I I I I I ORDER CHANGED 1 Sentences of Ten Rioting Sol Soldiers liers Commuted by hy President Wilson Washington Sept 4 Death Death sentences sen- sen fences of ot ten negro soldiers who participated par- par d In the riot at nt Houston Tex Tox August 23 23 1917 have been commuted to life lite imprisonment b by President Wil VB son sonIn In Bis Ix other cases the tho President at- at firmed tho the Heath sentence because the condemned men had been found guilty gUilt of oC having deliberately and with great cruelty murdered civilians This action announced today b by the war d department concludes the oases CaseS ise of twenty nine negroes given g the death penalty for tor their part in the riot Thirteen were executed and the thc dent was called upon to review the findings in sixteen cases Tho The President found that the ten ton whose sentences ho he commuted had not been heen convicted con of or personally and di directly di- di causing deaths death The soldiers In In- In were not named In the war de do- do j In-j statement U I commute the remaining sentences the President said in a n statement at attached at- at to the record because I be believe be- be lieve the lesson of or this lawless riot will have ha been adequately pointed out by y the action already taken and that now hOW directed and also aleo because I desire the clemency lire here ordered to be bo a recognition rec rec- of ot tho the splendid loyalty of or the therace therace therace race to which the these e soldiers belong and an inspiration to tho the people of that race to further zeal and service to the country they are citizens and for the liberties of ot which so many of or them now are bravely bra bearing arms at the very ery front of oC the great reat fields field of or battI battle bat bat- tI tle e. e |