Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-07-15
R. ]. Minor Caught With
Trunkful of Propagan-
da Intended to Halt
American Invasion.
Elaborate Preparations
Made for Court-Martial
When Pershing Order
ed His Freedom.
BY EDWIN l.. JAMES.
fChicago Tribune-N. Y. Times Gable

L. L SHUfe.
(Copyright)
Coblenz, July S.-Robert 7. Minor
held for four weeks in the military pris-
on at Coblenz, awaiting trial on charges
of violation of the articles of war, has
been released. Orders for his release
appear to have emanated from a source
superior to military authority. He was
freed after the military commission had
been named to try him, after the
charges had been prepared and served
upon him. after witnesses had been brot
from many places, and after great ef-
fort and expense by the army in the
preparation of the case. His release is
regarded as unusual.
In no other case in the legal annals
of the American expeditionary force has
such interest been shown by persons in
civil authority not connected with the
military establishment. In no other
case has the embassy at Paris called up
army headquarters every day for inform
alton.
Big Men Turned Down.
The army authorities have technically
assumed responsibility for Minors re-
lease 1t would be sensational If they
did not
The statement issued here says:
"The case against Robert J. Minor has
been dropped after the military had de-
cided the case was not strong enough
to hold him."
This formal statement does not ap-
pear faithful reflection of opinion of
the army officers who had to do with
the case and with whom l have discuss
ed often. A military commission of five
generals are not as rule appointed to
try cases before the military authori-
ties think they have a case. The charges
are not as a rule prepared and served
formally upon the prisoner before the
military authorities think they have a
case. Witnesses are not as rule brot
together from Russia, France and Ger
many when the military authorities do
not intend to try the case. Militar,
justice does not generally drop cases at
the stage Minors case was dropped.
the stage Minors case was dropped.
Minor was arrested in Paris June s,
after attending meeting of the Paris
strike leaders. In his hotel was found
n trunkful of propaganda supposed to
have been for distribution among Ameri-
can soldiers in Germany and which
were intended to prevent the advance
of Americans into Germany had peace
not been signed. He was brot to Cob
lenz by French authorities, who had
him at the request of the Brit
ish authorizes, and they turned him over
to American military authorities here
He was placed in solitary confinement
The first notice of high interest in the
case came with request from Colonel
House for information.
Embassy Interested In Him.
Soon after money came for Minor thru
the American embassy in Paris, a thing
natural enough. Thereafter. the EN-
bassy gave orders that it be kept in
formed of all developments. and with
every day the embassy called Coblenz
ON the telefone for information.
Meanwhile, the British military auth
orities at Cologne tried ten persons
there for radical efforts among the
troops. including an attempt on Gen
eral Plumers life. Minors name was
mentioned at this trial number of
times. Following his trial in Germany,
It was shown he had associated with
radicals there.
At this stage the charges against
Minor it is said, were served upon him
N his prison cell. A day or so before
ne had been put in touch with friends
n Paris, Griffin Barry, newspaper
nan, came to Coblenz. Thereafter Minor
was treated with much more considera-