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Show Negro Soldiers Who Shot Up Houston Are Haeged. SAN ANTONIO. Tex., Dec. 11. The thirteen negroes of the Twenty-fourth infantry, United States army, found guilty of complicity in the riot and mutiny at Houston, on August 23, were hanged on the military reservation at Fort Sam Houston, at 7:17 o'clock this morning. Announcement of the carrying carry-ing out of tho sentence was made at headquarters of the southern department depart-ment at 9 a. m. Without a tremor they stepped out with soldierly tread and singing a hymn they walked to their places. Prayers were said by a negro minister and by two army chaplains and then the men were ordered to stand on the stops. Resuming their soqg they stood crect and dispJayecL,thc greatest-fortitude while the ropes were adjusted. At. 7:17 the major lu charge of the execution gave the order to spring tho traps. The triggers had been arranged, arrang-ed, one for each drop, and six men woro assigned to each one. At the word of command they pulled on the triggers and the thirteen negroes dropped drop-ped ,to their deaths. Eleven of them died almost instantly, the other two quivering a moment or two after the rope became taut. No civilian spectators were allowed at Hhe execution. Sheriff John Tobin and several of his deputies helped to adjust the nooses, they having prepared pre-pared the hangman's knots for the army men. Tho announcement from headquarters headquar-ters reads as follows: "The proceedings, finding and sentences sen-tences of tho general court martial which tried sixty -three men of the Twenty-fourth infantry for their implication im-plication in the riots at Houston. Tex., August 23, 1917, wore approved by the commanding general, southern department, depart-ment, December 10, 1917." After giving tho names of the men hanged, tho statement gives sentences imposed in other cases as follows: "In the caso of Cook William Frazier, Cook Nathan Humphreys, Jr., Privates, first class, John M. Hudson, Jr., Jnmes R. Johnson, Ben McDnniels, and Stewart Ste-wart W. Phillips, all of Company I; Privates Douglas T. Bolden. Fred Brown, Robert Brownficld. Harrison Capers, Den Cecil, Gerald Dixon. Henry Green, James R. Hawkins, George Hobbs, Norman D. Holland. Richard Lewis, Leroy Plnkelt. Joseph Ward-low, Ward-low, William S. Kane, Harry Richardson, Richard-son, Luther Rucker, Roy Tyler, Joseph Williams. Jr., all of Company I; Privates Pri-vates Ernest Adams, John Adams, Wash Adams. Douglass K. Lumpkins, Richard Brown, all of Company K; Privates Allie C. Butler, Abner Davis and George IT. Parham of Company L; Bugler Ruben W. Baxter, Company M; Privates Walter Burkett, James Coker, Callio Glenn, William J. Hough. 1 Thomas Jackson, Walter T. Johnson, I'DeaiTNew; "Jesse Sullivan, all of Com-'pany Com-'pany M; all of tho 24th United States infantry in each event to be dishonorably dishonor-ably discharged from the service, to forfeit all pay and allowances due and to be confined at hard labor, at such J place as the reviewing authority may ! direct for the term of his natural life, j "In thC cases of Private Oliver Fletcher, Flet-cher, Company M, 24th United States I infantry, to be dishonorably discharged j from the service, to forfeit all pay and' allowances duo and to be confined at 1 Ihard labor at such place as the review- ing authority may direct for two years and six months. "In the cases of Private Henry T. Walls, Company I; private, first class, Alvin Pugh. Company I, and Private Walter B. Tucker, Company I. all of the 24th United Stales infantry and oach of them to be dishonorably discharged dis-charged from the service, to forfeit all pay and allowances due and to bo confined at hard labor at such place as tho reviewing authority may direct-for two years. "To be acquitted: Privates William B. Bcacoat, Grover Burns, Company I; Grant IT. Mems, Company K; Bursh L. Smith, Company L. and Terry L. Smith all of the 24th United States infantry. "The 13th nrtlclo of war authorizes department commanders in time of war to carry into execution sentences of death without higher authority. "Those named above as sentenced to death were hanged on the military reservation res-ervation at Fort Sam Houston at 7:17 o'clock a. m. December 11 and was carried out under the escort of a guard from the military establishment there. "The remains wero interred near the place of execution. "Those named above sentenced to confinement for a number of years will be sent to the United States disciplinary discipli-nary barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. "Thoso acquitted will be- released from confinement and sent to join their regiment." |