The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30

for conditions in American army pri- sons In and around Paris was placed yesterday upon General W. W. HartS, of the regular army, by Colonel T. Q. Donaldson, of the Inspector Generals Department. Colonel Donaldson who conducted an investigation at Farm No. 2, at Che1les. testified at Castle Williams on Governors Island, before a subcommittee of the House of Re presentatives, concerning the brutal ity to which prisoners at Farm No. 2 were subjected.
 Three other witnesses were exam ined. They were former Lieutenant ("Hard Boiled'') Smith, now serving an eighteen months sentence in Fort Jay for his acts while in command at Farm No. 2; Sergeant Clarence Ball. serving six months for brutality while serving under Smith, and Private Jo- seph c. Ryszelewski, victim of army prison brutality, who while an escap- ed prisoner won a commission in the famous Polish 154 Spad Escadrille, three air victories and the Croix de Guerre with three palms and five stars.
 Asked by Representative RoyaH c. Johnson, of South Dakota, chairman of the sub committee, who he thought was responsible for the con ultlOnS at NO COlOHel DOli- aldson said:
 "I think the commanding general of the district of Paris was responsible for it.
 Who was that?"
 General W. w. Harts.''
 General Harts, before he went to France, was President Wilson's mili- tary aid at the White House.
 Colonel Donaldson said that in his report to his superiors he had recom- mended that Colonel E. P. Grinstead of the 15Sth Infantry Gan Arizona National Guard regiment, be tried, together with Lieutenant Smith and other junior officers and non-com- stoned officers of Farm No at Chelles.
 why wasn't Colonel Grinstead tried, instead of being given an hon. orable discharge?" asked Represent ative Oscar Bland, of Indiana, the other member of the subcommittee. 'T presume" replied Colonel Don aldson, that 1t was because 1t was believed he couldn't be convicted It was very difficult to obtain convic- tions, even for the most outrageous crimes
 Hard Boiled" Smith was brought into the library of the round brick pTlsSCn IIlaI IS SdStlt W lllistlilS- iAAs head was shaven, and on his trousers and the back of his olive-drab shirt were stensilled in white paint the nu- morals "S0S." Smith said he enlisted in the Arizona National Guard in 1913 and was commissioned in February, 1916. He served on the Mexican bor- der. and while down there was pro- vost marshal and was nicknamed Hard Boiled" Smith.
 
 cer than TIarts for conditions at Farm No. 2. He said that Colonel F. P. Grinstead had told him that Major General F. s. Strong, his tidvision commander, had issued instructions that the men confined at Farm No. were to be kept under ruthless dis cipline."
 Did General Strong ever come to Farm No. 2?'' asked Representative Johnson.
 How often did Colonel Grinstead visit the farm?"
 ''Sometimes every day and some times about twice week."
 What were your orders when put In charge of the prison?" T was told by Colonel GrinsteaIdl to treat the men as general prisoners, and that I would be held personally responsible for escapes. Did you ever have any conversa- ton with Colonel Grinstead concern ing the treatment given the men?' T told the adjutant somebody would be in Leavenworth before we were through
 What was the name of the adju- tant?"
 "Adjutant Hansen" Smith denied that men ever were ! Iz,4 IT., e. tioning described the circumstances leading up to the suicid of a prison CT who cut his throat with a safety razor blade.
 "I was making an inspection on a | Saturday morning and this man had 1 been pulled out of line to have his hair cut" he said. "As I passed he made some remark about injustice, and I told him I didn't know any | thing about the rights of his case. I | turned away, and the man rushed at
 me. I put out my hand to stop him. I said at my trial that hit him, but I don't know whether I hit him or not. He was grabbed by a lieutenant and put in close confinement A l while later he was brought before me with cuts on his hand and wrist. I | saw that he intended to commit sui eide, and had a. guard placed over | n1n- AnOtneT pIlSOHeF Sllpped nlI11 a razor blade, and he cut his throat" "Who was in charge while you were in the hospital?" Smith was | asked.
 Lieutenant c. M. Leslie.'' Were conditions the same while l he was there?"
 | "Yes sir"
 why wasn't he tried?" That's what I've often wondered. If I was guilty all the officers were | guilty"
 Smith denied that he had ever | taken any property belonging to men l in his custody. He said on one or two occasions he had bought souve- mfrs the men had when they came to the camp. Once. he said. he paid 100 francs for Deaths Head Hussar helmet and another time about five francs for a pair of spurs. When the members of the sub- committee had finished questioning