Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-05-21
SCANDALOUS LIARS
Indictment Promised for Sldnaef'
efS Of Red Cross.
DIRTY HANDS STAB GOOD WOMEN
New York Grand Jury Makes In
vestisation Of The Low Down
Tactics Of The Evil Minded People
Who Help German Propaganda BY
Trying To Bring The Nob'est VI
Nyopen Into Contempt.

Tactics OF The Evil Minded People
Who Help German Propaganda sy
Trying To Bring The Noblest Ut
Women Into Contempt.
New York World.
In the future, no matter whetner
they be American citizens or SUD-
jccts OF other nations. origlnators
and carriers OF false or malicious
rumors in connection with the war
will be indicted. tried and. If con-
victed under the Espionage ACT can
lie given the extreme penalty OF
twenty years Imprisonment and w.
900 fine.
Judge Augustus ". Hand. after re-
cciving recently presentmcnt OF
the Federal grand jury. which hiId
lsen examining into the spreading OF
several baseless stories, made this
statement. and he characterized such
reports as deliberate and unfriendly
propaganda"
The most serious story, which was
branded as false by the grand jury,
that had been circulated throughout
the country for the past few months
was 4 typical one to the effect tnat
frightiul and scandalous conditions
attend the Red Cross nurses in the
Nmcrican army hospitals in France.
DR.. Culbertson Accused.
The prcsentment says that DIR.
Emma B. Culbertson, senior surgeon
of the New England hospital for
Women and Children at Boston, made
the following statement at Nassar
College. Poughkeepsie. on Jan. II
last:
1T was a matter Of common knowl-
edge that 200 beds had been reserved
in the Sloane Maternity Hospital.
New York. for Red Cross nurses who
were returning from France and ex-
pcctlng immediate confinement"
This investigation showed that the
hospital authorities had no knowledge
of such an arrangement and branded
I as absolutely false. The present
Hmcnt reads in part:
Emma B. Culbertson had abso-
lutcly no knowledge or information
upon which to base such n state
mcnt. and it is wholly false and with
out foundation. Our information
shows that no Red Cross nurse Mas
returned to this country from foreign
service in such 4 condition.
"Thc grand jury further presents
that the said Emma b. Culbertson
herself now believes that she has
been misinformed rs to the matters
contained in the statement made by
her and regrets that she has been, a
party to the dissemination of kS;
statement. ~"
THE grand jury further presents
that the said Emma B. Culbertson did
not wilfully make said statement
with the intent to interfere with the
operation and success of the military
and naval forces of the United States
or to obstruct the American Red
Cross in the recruiting or enlistment
of nurses in the service Of the United
States"
World Provided information.
Part of the information upon which
tie grand jurors grounded their pre-
sentiment was provided by The World,
which investigated one particularly
malicious story and found II to be
lying Pro- German propaganda. The
article referred to was published on
March % last.
II told of the report. which was
raced from New York to Allentown.
Pa. that two Red Cross nurses re-
turning to this country were about to
enter maternity hospital. 1t was
said they had been captured by the
Germans in the north OF France. their
hands cut off and their tongues slit.
The tale. Of course. was part of the
German propaganda OF frightfulness.
In conclusion the prcsentment says:
THAT the grand jury. In connec-
zion with the inquiry instituted with
respect to the statement first above
mentioned. likewise inquired into the
truth or falsity of the story con-
tanned in said article.
THAT the inquiry conducted by
this grand jury has established that
the story contained in the article Is
not based upon fact. but as reported
hy The World Is merely one OF a
score of such wild vaporings which
alr started into being malevolently.
and then are repeated by patriotic
Americans who ought to know bet
ter.
THE grand jury further presents
that 1t deplores the tendency shown
by the public in general to give ear
to and repeat stories and reports OF
and character affecting the Amer
lean Red Cross and its nurses, for the
reason that such stories and reports
not only seriously interfere with the
recruiting Of nurses for service
abroad. hut also have tendency to
create public distrust in the Amer
lean Red Cross. and are detrimental
to the many activities it Is carrying
on to alleviate the unspeakable con-
dition due to the war"
Conviction Almost Certain.
Judge Hand in accepting the pre-
sentiment said In part:
A statement like this. which, after
investigation. you have found was ut
tcIly without foundation: which after
the reports and testimony Of represen-
tatives of the Sloane Maternity Hos
pital. YOU have found had not a scin-
tilla OF evidence back Of 1t. is a thing
to he deprecated and severely censur-
cd by the court.
THAT a person should come to
place which Is a seminary. a college
for the education OF young women who
are eager. many of them. to go abroad
IN not nnroao for The Dad Troaa and