New-York tribune., 1919-12-16
Gonzales Tells Army Court
He Only Pretended to
Obey Deter and Spat 1t
Out as He Turned Head
Stories of Beatings Given
Machinist Charges He Was
Kept on Feet Without
Food During 36 Hours

Private Marcello Gonzales, of Mcxi-
can descent, but born in Brownsville,
Tex told the military court at Co..
ernor's Island yesterday that he did
not eat lighted cigarette, although
ordered to do so by Captain Karl w.
Detzer, formerly commander of the
3oSth Military Police Company, at LIE
Mans, France. Captain DETER is be-
ing tried by a general court martial for
alleged brutal treatment of military
prisoners, one of the twenty-eipht t
specifications against him being that he
forced soldier to swallow a lighted
cigarette
Private Gonzales, a swarthy, power
1ully built man, enlisted for service at
San Antonio, Tex, on January a, 1918,
and fought with machine gun bat
tallion of the 4th Division in France,
taking part in the battles at Chateau
Thierry, st. Mihiel and Verdun. He
was discharged on October last, re-
enlisted and is now in the Quarter
master Corps, stationed at Camp Dix.
The witness described his arrest by
Captain Detzer on the evening of
February 26, 1919, when he was COM
ing out of a cafe. He told the captain
ne had pass, but that he was little
bit late. The pass was snatched from
him by Sergeant Madden, Gonzales
testlfed, and the next morning he was
taken to Captain Detzer's oihce, where
he was asked many questions by Ser
geants Hoyt and Madden. who beat
him about the face. For period of
three hours and then for forty-five
minutes he was forced to stand at at
tention, he said.
Asked for Smoke
II asked the desk sergeant for per
mission to smoke cigarette after l
was sick and tired of standing at at
tention," the witness testified in
broken English.
go ahead if you can get by the
captain" was the desk sergeant's re-
ply, according to Gonzales.
Gonzales lighted a cigarette, he said.
took few puffs, and then Captain
Deter came into the room.
Who gave you permission to smoke
that cigarette 2" the captain asked.
There was no reply.
EAT that cigarette" Captain Deter
ordered, according to the witness. He
also said that Captain Deter had
pistol in his hand.
II made believe I ate the cigarette
and then threw it on the floor" he
said.
1t was brought out by questions
asked by Lieutenant Thomas l.. Hef-
fernan, counsel for Captain Deter,
and members of the court that Captain
Deter did not watch Gonzales to see
that he ate the cigarette and that he
dld not attempt to force him to eat it.
Gonzales also testified that he was
kept in confinement from February 26
until some time in May, although he
had not been absent without leave. but
had been about fifteen minutes late
IN returning to camp.
Following the testimony of Con
zaies, Major William F. Kelly. the
Judge advocate, put on the witness
stand First Sergeant George Cohn of
Chicago. In France Private Gonzales
was in his company for five or six
days. On direct examination by Major
Kelly, Sergeant Cohn testified that
Gonzales was not A. w. O. l.. at the
time OF his arrest.
Stood for Thirty-six Hours
William j. Warner, machinist, of
Ames, Col, who served in France with
the 52d Medical Supply Detachment,
testified as to beatings received from
Sergeants Hoyt and Madden and said
that ne had been forced to stand at at
tentlon, five minutes up and five min
utes down, for thirty-six hours, during
which time he received nothing to eat.
Sleep, he said, was out Of the question.
he said ne supposed he had to stand at
attention for so long time because of
orders by Captain Deter, but that he
did not hear the captain issue the or
ders.
Two other witnesses who testified
yesterday were Frank J. Mulvy. of 149
East Main Street River Point, r. L.,
formerly member of Battery B, l08th
Field Artillery, 2Sth Division, and
William r. Lisk, of Clinton, Iowa, a
general prisoner now serving ten
years in Leavenworth Prison. Mulvy
said he was brutally beaten by Ser
geants Hoyt and Madden after being
arrested for taking part in a brawl in
front of cafe
Lisk, who was arrested on March 70,
1919, bore his prison number, 1897, on
the back of his uniform coat He de-
clared that Captain Deter held re-
volver against his ribs and said:
"l'll Kill you, if you don't confess
everything you know"