New-York tribune., 1918-05-07
Collectors Are
Placed ON Trial
At Camp Devens
Plead Not Guilty to Charge
of Disobedience to
Officer
Especial Dispatch to The Tribune

Especial Dispatch to The Tribune)
CAMP DEVENS. AVER, Mass, May
6.-The trial of twenty conscientious
objectors" began this afternoon before
general court martial board, consist
ing of Colonel Frank Tompkins, presi-
dent; Colonel J. S. Heron, Colonel
Percy D. Arnold and ten other officers
of high rank.
The accused men all pleaded "Not
guilty" to the charge Of disobeying the
lawful command of First Lieutenant
Edmonds F. Potter on April 16 of "All
outside, fall in, double rank" Only two
witnesses were called before adjourn
ment for ten days or fortnight was
taken. The two hours of the trial were
delayed frequently by arguments on
objections.
George E. Rerwer, jr., of Boston,
Socialist, represented the accused, ex
cepting Nathaniel II. Mowry, of rs
haywood Street, Worcester, thirty
years old. The others on trial were:
Herman G.. Abraham, Holyoke, aged
twenty-five, sashmaker, eligious pref
erence. international Bible Students
port, Conn, aged twenty-three, chauf-
feur, religious preference, l. B S. A.;
William M. Gordon, Chelsea, Mass,
aged twenty-four, Socialist; Raymond
Grushko, Bridgeport, Conn, aged
thirty-two. grocer; Louis Gurdus,
745 briggs av., Brooklyn, aged twenty
seven, printer, Socialist; Francis X.
Hennessy, Brighton, ,nMass., aged twen-
tty-two, claim adjuster; James w. R.
one, chauffeur, Society of Friends;
Hans Insberg. Boston, aged twenty
seven, sailor. I. B. S. A.; John Kassay,
aged twenty three; Joseph Karsak,
Worcester, aged twenty-five, machinist,
Socialist; George Lambasis, Boston,
aged twentyfour, I. B. S. A.; Carmelo
Nicita, Springfield, Mass. aged twen-
ty-four. laborer, l. B. S. A.; Morris
Paris, East Boston, aged twenty-three,
Mass, aged twenty-three, shipper;
Thomas Shotkin, New Haven; Charles
NJ. league, Comic, NJ H., aged twenty
one, Society of Friends; Gustav A.
Zeidler, jr., Watervlet, N. Y. aged
twenty-five, machinist; Jacob Schnei-
der; Roger E. Reed, East Brookfield,
Mass, aged twenty-six, salesman, So
ciety of Friends.
Although every one of the defendants
is private in the National Army, not
one of them wore army clothing. The
effect was unusual. Every other court
martial held in camp has been of a
man in uniform.
The court martial board members
occupied a long table at one end of
the officers mess of the 301st Infantry.
and at the other the twenty accused
men sat around a wall settee. The
Judge advocate; Major John z. Lowe,
assistant division judge advocate, At
torney Roewer, their assistants and the
stenographer occupied a table in the
centre of the room. A single chair in
front of the board held the witnesses.
The men on trial were under arrest,
their guards being a dozen soldiers.
armed with rifles.
The pleas advanced by Roewer were
that the court had no jurisdiction and
a plea in bar of trial" Both were
| disallowed, the court being closed and
the room cleared while the board de-
tcrmined the points. President Wilson
was quoted by Roewer in argument to
support the plea against jurisdiction,
claiming that the men were not in the
military service. Major Lowe denied
this, stating that the trial was in no
way an appeal against the action of
draft boards which had placed the men
i'll the army.
Under the 54th Article of War. dis
obedience of orders, on which charge
the trial hinges, punishment may be
death or any other sentence determined
by the court.
Lieutenant Potter and Corporal Peter
Francis Dinan told we'll connected
story of the instance of alleged dis
obedience. The conscientious objec-
tors" complained of being called "yel-
low bellies" and "slackers" as they
marched from the Second Separate
Company barracks to mess, according
to Corporal Dinan and they were told
they were to be taught fright face"
and Cleft face"
After the noon mess on April 16 Lieu
tenant Potter ordered them to go out
side and form in line. Three obeyed
and are not on trial.