The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-05-02
WASHINGTON NEWS
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wASREiGIU..l, D C., May 1.-The
first steps have been taken by Goa.
gresham Harry {. woodward to COM
bel an inyezt CATION into the death OF
Private George f. Davis, at Camp
Lee, Va. lis home was at Reedy,
Roane county, ". Va, and, although
he died at camp April %, his case has
Just bean cal,el 10 the attention at
the congressman from the district in
which his family reside
The attention Of Mr.. woodward was
directed 10 it by the receipt Of let
ter requesting that he take some prep.
er action AID certifying to the correct,
ness Of a clipping OF the young sol.
dier's death from the Reedy News OF
the issue OF April &c. These are the
facts It sets forth:
George II. Davis. by the Board OF
Roane county, wa5 indicted into SER
vice and sent 10 Camp Lee, on the lSth
day Of September, 1917.
ION or about the 29tH Of January
1918 he returned to his home in Cur
it's district on a tive dag furiough
About the time he was to return TO
Camp Lee, he was taken SICK WIN
measles A report OF his condit.2..
was sent to his commanding officer
! by his physician, DR.. c. 0. Stats.
when he recovered from the
measles he became i'll with pneumonia
probably caused by relapse. His
condition was reported to the army
authorities from time to time by lette.
by himself and by DT. Holy L. Caste
who was his physician ate: d.. Stats
entered the military acrv.Ce.
"An attachment was sent to En21
Johnson, sheriff. by the Camp Lee au'
thorities, requesting that Nj. D2v.e
be arrested and turned over to the
military authorities. As soon a5 the
sheriff received the attachment. lie
went to gee Mr.. D2Tis, who vas g the
hcn2 Ct his b"otieT-,n.iaTr \. llici1'
| at Srencer, and found to tie il such {
bad physical condition that he could
rot be moved. On the first Gay OF
April Sheriff J3knsoa wrote the mill
tary aathorit;es ct Gimp Lee, and also
sent Dr.. C>;to'5 affidavit, stating that
Mr.. DAYS wa ret able to be m3Y2l,
"Ano;ier orle: YVES received b. t'.e
sheriff et.u2.t.nS acton. SIr. N2i.5
not wanting to he arrested ard taken
bach, decided that lie wolld t.? e
make tire trip to Camp Les end, OF
April T.. visa the assistance OF -
Eiickr. who went y..l hin 10 tc--:e c.;
OF him. ne left fo" Camp Lee, NGa,-
his Illness continued woT Until CT
April 81 he died. He wcs 26 year
of age, a Mason, X. OF p, etc"
After preparing : bs::ef il ta;s Gaze
IN the form OF let,er With nawGpa2e,
Clipping attached. TIE letter. being I'd
dra5gei to Adi&tz1t Ca2e"a! II. l.. &c
CAN, OF the Var de9.T,2 oat, Coa
gresham woodward went to the otI2t
Of that Official. PIE 2rt.;rG the recoTt
in the case he had prepared to Gen
| Mccain, so that tb2.o cou,l be no n.s
understanding about the matter benz
brought directly 10 the attention OF tn;
army department In due course o
time, there will he reply from thu
department. aud the mG'Io up OF thC
record in the Gaze will, as is custo
mary, be bscrn.
There wSs n informal discussion
Of it at this meeting, but as the fact
as set out must be certified to. Con
gres3pan S;oedyaTd has written t.
haze that done, nd it IL li.:e.Y no fqr
: nal action will be taken ty Gen Nc
Cain until that is done.
II am calling your attention to thi
case" wrote Congressman WoodyIri
to Gen. Mccain. Tor the reason tina
it the statements contained in thi
) article arc true. Gcnei one in authorit!
at Camp Lee has bae1 grossly negl
gent in his Gut,.e5 aaI to auca an ex
tent as TO unnecessarily, and nigh
49,. wilful!:'. care the de&th of
splendid 'ycl.. r.'1. WHO was givin.
all he coG:d 10 the service CT IFS cola
t"y.
My. purpose II writing you is Il
request a thorough and complete in
restigation Of tbs e. . and, il tn
statements in taiS article are fount
TO be tsye. IA demand the immedict
punishment Of tns officer or officer
who we're responsible, in my judgment
fey tie boys death.
When | fiTst rc&l this article fel
: 80 imueGsUrab'y shocked that l in
) mediatRiy decided to take it to til
IGOR OF the Foaae and by re.olut;o,
, request and demand I'll investigation
bVS s1ter c1"efG! celebration, an
With NV r2qfilercc n Yourself that
, case Of tbs l'inA' will be ei~on tn
! ncst rigid ald most thorough invest
cation and the 81 Il? parties. il thsr
2:e cGc3, will Hf 7iyen the punishment
F@o l@ch'Y da-e""aL | have decided Z
firt reuue.t OF you the investigate,
> of fAiS. ccsc.
The confide&ce Of the people IN til
officers Of ou7 army mast and vii! b
greatly diminished il such condition
as this are EnowA to prevail and ar
passed alocs wittort, protest,
AT this critical time in tie affair
; SSNs~.O~O~ 49,. :,