The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-07-30
''HARD Boiled
SMITH IS NEAR
BREAK DOWN

uOWH dC Inc castle, the dlSclplln-
airy barracks at Governors Island,
where he has been confined since re-
turning to America last Sunday
night. The hours he has spent there
have been hours of terror and fear
of attack by his fellow prisoners is
with him constantly.
His apprehensions are without ade-
quate ground, thanks to the Honor
Association at "The Castle" which
has taken special pains to safeguard
Smith. On the other hand, while he
enjoys the same liberties as other
prisoners, the reputation which pre-
coded him to America stands as
barrier between him and intercourse
with his fellows. For the present, at
least, he is an odtcast at "The Cas-
tle."
Was Guarded on Transport.
"HardbOiled" Smith is serving q
year and half for the offenses in
France of which courtmartial found
him guilty. The original sentence
was three years, but this was cut in
two. His otfenses include, in the lam
guage of the official report, threaten
ing bodily harm, using abusive Ian
guage, misuse of personal property
not his own, and that he did strike
prisoners under his control
The chapter of charges is a long
one, and has not been made public.
Some of the accusations were not
proved by the specific offenses
which fall under the above general
heads are all contrary to army regu-
lations and led to his imprisonment.
After his exposure and arrest in
France, "Hardboiled" was the object
of one personal attack which opened
his eyes to the feeling he had aroused
against himself and inspired HIM with
deep fear of second experience of
the sort. On the transport which
brought him over it was necessary to
employ special precautions to save
him from the attention of the sold
iers.
In "The Castle" at Governors Is
land when he arrived there were
some men who had been in the
French prison camp when Smith rul-
ed. There were many others who
had heard of his conduct and--would
have welcomed an opportunity to
take up their comrades wrongs.
Honor Rules Prison.
With realization of the danger of
an outburst against him, meeting of
the Honor association was called to
consider the case. This association,
to which all prisoners are eligible and
which includes practically all of them
has weekly meetings, its own sonsti-
tuition and bylaws, rules and regula-
tions and standing committees.
The association pledges itself to
maintain order through sergeant-at-
arms it appoints and to support san
itary and other regulations. Its
grievance committee meets the COM
mandant weekly to discuss matters
of interest and grievances. 1t holds
an honor court whose punishment of
infractiOns of rules is recognized
among prisoners as more severe than
that of the prison court.
When Smiths arrival at The Castle
was heralded the association learned
that threats against his person had
been made by some inmates. These
men were called in to listen to an
explanation that if any assault was
made on Smith it would react to the
detriment of every man in The Cas-
tie. After considering every phase
of the question, those who had been
most outspoken against "Hardboiled"
agreed to leave him alone.
Following this agreement the pris-
oner, who until then had been closely
confined for his own safety, received
the same privileges as others, but he
has enjoyed no companionship in the
barracks. The policy of leaving him
alone has been closely followed by
his fellow prisoners.
Colonels to Be Court Martialled
Hardboiled's" full name and title
before his degradation were Lieut..
Frank H. Smith. He comes from
San Diego, California, where it is
said he has a wife.
Three former sergeantsc novicted
like "HardbOiled," of Offenses against
prisoners, came over with him. Two
were sent to Fl. Leavenworth to
serve long terms. The third, C. Z.
Ball, sentenced for six months, is at
''The Castle"
Announcement was made at Gov
ernor's Island yesterday that a gener-
a. court martial appointed bv Major