Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-10
Dies GrIevimg
For Soldier Son OrderRd
Shot By COurt-Martt0I
BY LOVE w. MILLER

SX LOXE w. M1AAE6
ELDORADO, Ill, Oct. 5.-Under
the willows of Wolf Creek graveyard
lies the body Of Mrs. Mary Sebastian.
Somewhere in France sleeps Forest
D. Sebastian, her soldier son.
He died a hero's death in battle
but his mother didn't know.
She only knew that he had been
ordered shot, disgraced for sleeping
at his post of duty-for falling
asleep after twenty-four hours of
Wakefulness.
She only knew that her boy Forest
was in sgrace-that same boy
Forest whose praises today are on
every tongue in this town, who at
twenty is Eldorado's first gold-star
hero
Anguished over her sons sentence,
Mrs. Sebastian died five weeks be-
fore her son fell CALAMITY in action,
at Scissors, on July 20, 1918, thus
Wiping off forever the blot against
his name which had been lightened
already by President Wilson's pardon.
Worry Sends Mother to Death
Worry over her son had ranked
in the mothers mind" said Mrs.
Katie Hampton, sister of Mrs. Sc
bastian, from whose house the boy
had gone to fight.
Mary was not yet forty when she
died. She had been large and strong
and healthy. But worry over him
caused her sudden decline and death.
"She lived to learn of her sons
pardon, but she never recovered from
the shock Of the news of his SEN
tence. 1t killed her. I know it did"
Eldorado's citizens are proud of
Forest Sebastian for wiping out the
stain on his name, if stain it was.
They also are very proud of Claude
Younger, another husky young coal
miner. Younger had been Sebastian's
lifetime pal. The two boys were the
first to volunteer from Eldorado, 60
ing away on April IA, only eight days
after war was declared.
Younger returned home two months
ago grieved because he had to return
without Frosty" as young Sebastian
was known. Younger, again at his
work, leaned on his pick handle to
tell his chum's story.
Talked to Buddy
"I had been transferred to the third
battalion with machine gun unit,
said Younger. Sebastian was with
Company G, Of the second battalion
So L wasn't with him when he got
into trouble, but I talked to him
about it later.
zone day I went to Demaigne,
where he was confined, and L saw
Frosty working among a gang OF
prisoners on the streets. That was
before he was sentenced to death. He
was trying to keep up his spirits
even as a prisoner. He didn't seem
to realize what serious trouble he
was in. He talked about how eager
he was to go to the front. That was
the last time I saw him. We went
to another sector. l did not learn
of his pardon until after his death.
Frosty as he snatched an OPP
portunity to talk to me away from
the eyes Of his sentry told me for
Gods sake not to write and let
mother know the trouble I'm in.
wouldn't have the folks back home
know it for the worldn
but his comrades told me, before
that, that they didn't believe 1.-The kid
went sound asleep on his post any
how. He told them he didn't, at least
and they all said the corporal who
turned him in did it to get 'in good
with the captain. The corporal didn't
get his wish. He's in Leavenworth
now for disobedience of orders. 10
Long on Duty
Frosty just dozed a little and
nodded his head on his breast, they
told me, and can't see how anybody