The Washington times., 1918-06-27
GODSOL To ASK
HABEAS CORPUS
WITHOUT DELAY
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ing of the decision, wilton J. Lam
bert, OF Godsors counsel. asked that
the commitment order be signed at
once, In order that application might
be made for q writ OF habeas corpus.
II - expected that this application
will be made late this afternoon.
Statement by GOdsOI.
Nj. Godsoi. after the rendering OF
the opinion by Justice Hltz. made the
following statement:
1.-THE ruling OF Justice Hiz holding
me for extradition Is most surprising
for cannot comprehend nor conceive
how q basis of even suspicion OF guilt
can be gathered from the evidence
which absolutely establishes fiat l
never acted in any capacity for the
French authorities: never Inter
mediated for them. directly or
indirectly, in any purchases; never
made any representations Of any
kind to them. and that they recog-
mixed me, in writing. as the agent Of
the automobile factories. Therefore,
could hardly have committed the
crime charged.
MY counsel express utmost con-
will be reversed.
The charges were insugated by
political prosecutors temporarily in
America-not in France. These
enemies inspired a newspaper cam
paign throughout the world ac-
cusing me of every cOnceiT able crime,
with the object OF 50 surrounding the is
sue with a preJudicial atmosphere that
the public would condemn me without
the charge itself. which
could not bear examination.
MY chief accuser hoped to gain po-
litieal advancement through publicity
obtained from my case by claiming
he had unearthed a malefactor who
had been protected by former ad-
II have heard unoffcially-with-
out any detaiIs-that, notwith-
standing my honorable discharge
from the army after more than a
years active service. and after two
boards OF military doctors had de-
clared me physieallys unit for mill
tary duty, a special act has been in
voked to nulIify my discharge
An Interior Purpose.
at is evident from this TINT there is
an ulteriqr purpose in all the proceed
ings, as the services of one man,
of my age, could hardly be consid-
cred OF sufficient value to necessitate
such extreme and unusual action.
81 empha1ically declare that my as
sociates and 1 rendered valuable serv-
ices to France in obtaining quick de-
liveries OF trucks at a time when they
were desperately needed. and when
the successful prosecution OF the war
was practically dependent upon means
Of transportation; further. in Oc-
tober, 1914, We prevailed uron the
Fiat Company, OF Turin, Italy. to
cancel orders they already had from
Germany and make deliveries to
France instead. We also repaired
hundreds OF trucks gratis, although
not required by the terms OF bur con-
tracts so to do. / have letters from
the French authorities expressing
for what We had done.
That 1 did not resist extradition be-
cause OF guilt Is manifest from the
fact that / returned to France in No
Eember, 1916, to face the same
charges that have just been made
against me, and I was completely
.xonerated.
But knowing that I would now be
Iacrificed to the political ambitions
" my foes. was determined to prove
IN this side OF the water. that the
he charges are entirely unfounded."