Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-09-03
SOLDIERS RESENT
REFLECTION CAST
ON DEAD COMRADE
Captain KeIeher in Behalf OF
His Men Sets Forth Facts
of Death of Victim


of Death OF Victim
That statements recently published
in a local morning paper concerning
the death Of Pvt John T. Domaras ri
Co. l., sind Infantry, and which al.
tributed his death to Demon Rum,
were absolutely without foundation
is the assertion made in letter writ
ten to the Star-Bulletin by Capt. Geo
keleher, commanding Co L, 32nd In.
fantry, and a member OF the military
board which investigated the accident
The letter. which IS self-eXplana.
tory, reads as follows.
Editor Honolulu Star.BulIetin,
"HOnC:ulu, II. T.
Sir: am writing YOU this letter
with hope that you give it particular
prominence, in order that the public
OF Honolulu may know facts instead
IOf haIlucinations as published by the
Commercial Advertiser on September
/, 1917, relative to the death of the
late Private John T. DOmaraski, Co.
l., end Infantry.
Il am prompted in this action for
the following reasons:
First | have been stationed in
the Hawaiian islands for one year and
a half and have noted that your PAPER
has always been truthful, honest and
absolutely just in your items about
the soldiers, sailors and marines.
Second. The Commercial Adver.
to be satisfied by writing an account
absolutely without foundation, upon
the accident and death of Private Do.
maraski, which they attributed to
Demon RUNS further achievements
but they must further give their paper
name by taking tits soldiers death
into their editorial columns.
Third. The officers and men Of
this battalion, of which | am now in
command, resent this injustice and
the stigma that it might possibly bear
with the public.
Fourth. This unjust defamation of
the dead.
II am in command of Co. l., 32nd
Infantry, and have known Private J. T.
Domaraski since he joined the com.
pany September Is, 1916. His char
acter and service during this time
was excellent. At all times he has
been sober, industrious and above re.
prOach in the performance of his du.
ties and his conduct. l was further
the president of a board of officers
detailed to investigate fully into the
surrounding his death.
The board completed its finding and
reached its conclusions today and for,
warded its report to the military au.
thorities. We had before us to testify
under oath, the soldiers who were in
the car, Cpl. Hodan, Battery F, 1st
Field Artillery, and the conductor, en-.
gineer and brakeman of the train.
I'VE found the following to be
facts:
First. The approach to the cross.
ing at which the accident occurred
was such, due to trees and houses,
that a train, coming from the direc-
ton that No. 80 was coming, could
not be seen by a pedestrian until he
was, about Is yards from it.
Second. That Private John T. Do
maraski jumped from the automobile
Just before the machine crossed the
track but due to the proximity of the
train he could not check himself or
reach tha ~''o~ side of the track.
Third. That this soldiers actions
were not prompted by Demon Rum
but were those of a sober man who
saw death facing him and attempted
to avoid it.
Fourth. That from the time of
the accident to the time of his death
he bravely faced the intense pains
caused by the injuries he had re-
ceived
Fifth. That his death resulted
from the following injuries: Fracture
compound comminuted both bones
right leg: fracture small comminuted
both bones left leg; lacerated wound.
just below knee 2x2x15 inches; frac.
ture compound skull outer table inch
above and l inch behind left external
angular process; lacerated wound Ak
inches inflowing skin simultaneous
tissue and left temporal muscle ex.
tending from just above left zygoma
to sagimOtal suture; fracture small
both bones left forearm; confusion
Axe inches lower region each lateral:
confusion slight AKA inches over right
trochanter; confusion slight SKA
inches external surface left thigh:
lacerated wound 1x1x15 inches above
and to right of anus.
I'm conclusion I will state that I
defy and challenge the Commercial
Advertiser TO prove this unwarranted.
unjust and entirely uncalled for defa.,
nation of one Of our soldier dead.
GEORGE KELEHER,
Captain 32nd Infantry.