Evening journal., 1918-12-17
SOL. ER'S life IS
SPARED BY WILSON
President COMMITTED Death
Sentence on Eve of De-
parture for France
WILL DISCHARGE
MANY MORE MEN

CAMP DIX, Wrightsiown, n. j.. Dec
i..-Sentenced by general military
court-martial to be hanged for his
dlsloyal statements to fellow mem
bers OF his company and for re-
fusal to obsy orders, Private solomon
Losofsky, a Newark ieweler VIII owe
his life to Presidential clemenecy, the
Official report OF the case issued here
showing that on the eve OF leaving
for Europe. President Wilson COM
muied the sentence TO Imprisonment at
hard iabor for 20 years. Major General
Scott. the camp commander, In review
Ing the case, approved the findings OF
the court, the entire sentence directing
that the prisoners 'be dishonorably
discharged from the service, TO forfeit
all pay and allowance due or TO be-
come due. and to be hanged by the neck
until dead, two-thirds Of the court con-
curing"
Under the general rule. all cases in
which capital punishment Is Imposed
by the court are referred 10 the Presi-
dent before execution. In a previous
case where the death sentenc was i'm
posed upon an obiector here. the en-
tire sentence was dlsapproyed by the
general commanding at the time, as an
excessive penalty, the President rule
not then being in effect. In the pres
ent case the fact that Major General
Scott, who has a record for leniency In
numerous other cases, approved the
punishment imposed by the court shows
the general sentiment Of military men
esarding the crime Of disloyaliy as
charged against Losofsky
Lofosky was called in a draft early
in the summer and was assigned 10 the
i2th Company, Sd training battalion, OF
the i53d Depot Brigade Among the
statements he Is alleged 10 have made
to the prejudice Of good order and
military discipline was one TO the ef-
feet that 81 did not want TO come 10
tins dump In the first place and have
no respect for The Dag or the country
other charges were that LOsofsky re-
fused the same day. 20 obey orders Of
Sergeant Matter l.. Robins and Lieuten-
ant E. d. Glll 20 put on-hls legglns.
Tho court found him guilty on the
three charges Of violating the nlnty-
sixth, sixty-fourih and sixty-ffth ar
titicc ui Ntls
The Presidential order confirms the |
sentence. but commutes it to dishonor- |
able discharge, forfeiture Of all pay, |
md allowances due or TO become due |
ad confinement at hard labor for 20
ars. The Atlantic Branch, United /
ates Disciplinary Barracks, at Fort
y. n. Y, IS designated as the place Of
onanement. In passing sentence, the
curt could have designated death by
hanging or before a rifle squad. Shoot
Ing is reserved for men guilty Of purely
military crimes, the. hanging verdict be-
iug reserved for ign0minious crimes
Committed by soldiers.
More than 5000 enlisted men OF the
Ordnance Department now on duty at
ordnance stations in New Jersey and
Delaware will be sent here for dis
charge within q few days, in addition /
to the 1900 men from various train
ing camps throughout the country now
pouring into Dix for rehabilitation. or
the new detaehments listed for release
from the service, 800 men viii come
from the big ammunition plant at Mays
Landing, 1000 from Amatol, $50 from
the Rarlian Arsenal, and 100 from New
Castle. Del.