The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-21
KILLED A CHINAMAN.
Worcester Soldier In
the Philippines
Sentenced.
TEN YEARS AT HARD LABOR.
elimination Of Rochette's
Career of Hard
Luck.
TEN YEARS AT HARD LABOR.

Private William ]. Rochelle, Of Co. l,
Twenty-third United States infantry,
Worcester boy, has been sentenced to
ten years at hard labor by a general
court martial convened at Cebu Cebu
islands, in the Philippines, on the
charge of manslaughter. He was
charged with killing Chinaman with
whom he got into an alteration when
off duty for day.
The ten years at hard labor is to be
performed under guard at the island of
Iloilo, and he was transported on the
first steamer that left the port of Cebu
Cebu. The news which comes to this
city of the young fellows misfortune
seems hardly credible to those who
were acquainted with Rochelle in Wor-
cester, as he was always regarded as
an exemplary young man, and not one
who would be likely to get into trouble
of that sort.
The story which reaches this city
comes from a comrade who is serving
in the same company. He says that
Rochette was not entirely to blame for
the killing of the Chinaman, as they
had exchanged several blows before the
Chinaman was struck, and when fall
ing he hit his head against some hard
substance which opened his skull. The
members of the company all feel the
greatest sympathy for the young man,
who, they say, is nearly broken-h heart
ed over the outcome of the affair
1t seems that Rochette was allowed a
day out of camp on a pass, and went
to the town of Cebu Cebu. There he
drank a few glasses of the native bev-
erage, which had bad effect on him,
as he was not used to it. Added to that
ne hit the pipe" as the letter ex-
presses it, and became "dopey." He
had met Chinaman, who, it is
claimed, enticed him into an opium
joint and when the young soldier was
under the influence of the drug he at
tempted to rob him. Rochelle who is
a powerful fellow for his age, resisted
the Chinaman, and a free for all fight
ensued
The general court martial which
tried Rochelle held that he was to
blame for starting the trouble, but
that he did not hit the Chinaman with
the intention of killing him. For that
reason he was charged with man
slaughter The unfortunate ending of
young Rochette's career has had a de-
pressing effect upon his comrades, and
they are all wishing that they could
come home. The trouble took place
some time before Memorial day, as the
letter which was written to this city is
dated previous to that, and the writer
said that they were preparing for the
observance of the day.
Young Rochelle was born in this city
ana lived with his parents at ia Har-
lison street. He entered the army
when the war fever was at its height
In this city, enlisting under Capt. d. A.
Anglum at the recruiting station in the
Walker building. He was sent to Fort
McPherson, Ga, and when volunteers
were called for service in the Philip
pines, he was one of the first to proffer
MS services. He went to Preside, Cal,
which is near San Francisco Here his
nrst bad luck came when he was strick-
en- with fever which rendered him
unit for duty, and he was taken to the
hospital
When convalescent his regiment, the
TWenty-third, was ordered to the Phil
ippines, and against the wishes of the
doctors OF the hospital, young Rochelle
decided to go. He was offered his dis
charge at the time and refused it, as he
was anxious to get into the fighting.
He went aboard the transport with the
other members Of the regiment, and
when half way across the ocean he
met with another bad accident. with
another member of the company he
was carrying boiler full of boiling hot
coffee to the company mess, when the
ship listed and Rochette fell and the
hot coffee was poured over him. He
was considered in bad shape at the
time, and 1t was thought that he would
never recover, but he did, and landed
with the regiment at Manila.
He took part in the fighting before
the capitulation of the city, and again
when the Filipinos rebelled.
He was popular member of [ Co.
and three on-commissioned officers of
the company went on the stand to testi-
fly In his behalf. They made many ex
travagant statements and were re-
duced to the ranks for it, Rochette
was well known and favorite on I'm
ion hill People in that vicinity find II
hard to believe the reports which come
from the Philippines concerning him.
From the tenor of the letters from
the island, there is not much chance Of
his being released before the expira-
ton of the term of his sentence.
The other Worcester boys are COM
planning Of the rainy season, and saw
the place is the worst they ever saw
They are all wishing that they were AT
home once more.