Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-30
PROBE SINKS
CONTINUED from NPaoe One)

to IL months ana Wncn SOlOuel Oou-
aldson was on the stand he was
asked to explain THIS reduction but
said he coulo give no reason for it.
Smiths reference to his expected
death was Interpreted by the prison
doctor as an indication of his belief
that some of the other prisoners
would attempt to take his life. The
doctor said that as far as he knew
the man was in perfect health.
The description by Smith of Farm
No. as a pleasure resort" was nat
ly contradicted by Sergeant Clarence
e. Ball, who was the lieutenants su-
bordinate at the prison and is now
serving six months on charges of
brutality. Sergeant Ball swore that
he and other sergeants had beer
forced to beat scores OF prisoners Oh
the direct orders Of Smith and fire.
quently in his presence. The SER,
geant was asked what instructions
were given by Smith when he was
made prison sergeant.
Il was ordered to beat the men.
to treat them rough"
How many did you beat up?"
II could not say"
You mean they were so many you
could not count them?"
YES"
Fifty or one hundred?"
YES
Ball asserted that some Of the men
beaten were just out of the hospital.
that on one occasion he was ordered
to beat a man in the presence Of
Smith and FIVE other officers and that
an officer was generally present when
a man was threshed. When men were
beaten 50 badly that they were COW
cred with blood, he said, they were
taken out into the yard and the hose
was played on them.
Sergeant Ball claimed that he had
no choice, because Smith threatened
that If he did not obey orders he
himself would be turned over to the
prisoners and he knew they would
kill him.
Did the colonel know abott these
things" he was asked.
The colonel was in it as much as
any one else. If he didn't SCI things
he must have had bad eyesisht."
In testifying about one court mar
tial in France, when he was charged
with hitting a prisoner AMI using
abusive language. Sergeant Ball
claimed he was told what toisay" bv
lieutenant who. he said, Was sent
to him as counsel by Major No
BILE" and who claimed he world ..set
him off light" Ball said he testified
at this trial as instructed and re-
ceived light sentence.
He told us what to say.'' testified
Ban, and we said what he told us,
That is the reason the truth did not
come out at that trial"
Ball said he was told to say that he
had never seen Smith strike a nr;s.
oner and said it. He added ~ Va.
ply 70 question, that Under the
circumstances" and considering the
charge against him. he thought he
had received "tair DEAL"
Il prefer tc stay here ana sarve
out my term" Ball said in replv 10
another question. IF they send me to
Leavenworth I might be killed. hTev
have got Lieutenant Smiths first ser.
geant In the hospital there now"
He explained that the men =.
thought would get him" were mis-.
oners who had been at farm O. in
France.
The most sensational testimonv ~
the hearing was given by .TosenS r
Ryszelewslki. sophomore Of tha IT.
iversity Of Pennsylvania, who s,,;.t
ed in the aviation section.
Ryszelewski. who speaks r,.,,.s
French, Polish and Russian. rot - :
to some trouble over gambline w,,ch
was not specified in the test,,ras,,
and was sentenced to, three yss -.
imprisonment. He escaped "a
Joined the Polish army in Fr.aa.
was gassed. wounded, decorated ,rs.n
the Croix de 0uerre for rall.ntr,,
and given q commission. Finallv ~
was identified by the American array
authorities through eorresponSencs
with his pSrents In PhNadelphia. ana
claimed by them AZ a fugitive. ne
was sent to the stockade prison al
Gievres, where he asserted a .sver.
table reign Of terror. existed.
II saw men tortured to make them
give evidence against their COM
rades." he raid. "They were hand