The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-24

and sentenced to be dismissed from the service. The sentence was disap- proved by the Commanding General of the A. E. F.
 General Kreger's letter states that at the time First Lieutenant Frank IT, Smith, Hist Infantry, (''TIard- Boiled" Smith) and second Leuten- ant Charles J. Mason were being tried, but the records in these cases had not reached the Judge Advocate.
 Sergeant Ragnovich was charged with provoking speeches against pris- oners, assault with intent to do bodily harm, threatening language toward prisoners. and assaults upon them. He was found not guilty of four specifications anldl guilty of seven.
 Details of the charges against this
 Sergeant show that Re was alleged to
 have used the vilest language in refs erence to a photograph of prison CTS sister. Ragnoyich was charged with the same kind of language to three other prisoners. Other speci- ficaions charged him with striking prisoners in the mace, kicking them in the body and hammering them on
 the side of the head with his fists
 The testimony in the case of SerI geant Ball covers about the same al- legations. In one instance he was dCCuSeu Ol uSlnS SkCGDllOna1lY Vile language toward prisoners Ac- cording to the specifications, a load ed blackjack abdut one inch in dia- meter and a foot long was a favor ite weapon of Ball. He Is accused
 of striking four men with the black jack. Ball testified to the court that
 he had been ordered to treat lem rough in order to maintain discip- line.
 Testimony relating to Sergeant Weifmaier was along similar lines. but not as many allegations were | made against him.
 Lieutenant Helphenstein was ac- l cused of saying to prisoners: If you
 can't march in step I'll have you car- 1 ried into the hospital" No, I'll give you q kick if you don't get out 1 of here"; and in directing a sergeant l with regard to 500 prisoners: Keep them that way for five minutes and l drag out every that moves" The lieutenant was also charged
 with taking a belt worth $50 from a | corporal in the 17th Aerial Squad
 ron, and while Joking at six pictures i of prisoners wife, remari<ins
 You sergeants have got more
 x x on the string than anybody I | know off In the record of Helphenstein trial 1 Colonel Edgar B. Grimstead Is given as the superior officer of Helphen- stein and 'IIardboiled' Smith. The record shows:
 "Colonel Grimstead testified that he gave Lieutenant Smith, command 1 ing officer of the farm, orders to 1 keep these men under the most strict discipline I told him that so far 1 as discipline is concerned he could l regard these men as general prison 1 CTS, and by all means prevent escape | of prisoners and provide for the se-
 curIty of them."
 The record also states that Colonel | Grinstead, ''Hardboiled' Smith, Lieu l tenant Mason, and Second Lieutenant 1 William T. Sullivan, each testified to | Lieutenant Helphenstein's "good rep
 utation as an officer and a gentle- l man."
 More details of court-martials sent by General Kreger to the Chief of 1 Staff under date of July IT, show the | records in these cases:
 1 First Sergeant Joe Bush, U- s. A. l Replacement Battalion, who was sem 1 fenced to be discharged, forfeit all
 pay, and Imprisonment for one year; | sentence approved.
 First Sergeant Joseph Smith, of tho | same battalion, who was acquitted, | the acqutttal being approved. (Continued on Page Five.)