The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-12-12
ARMY BRUTALITY
AGAIN ALLEGED
Ex-SoIdier and Former Con-
vict Gives Sensational
Testimony at Trial

\EW YORK. p,c. li.--t,apih'n Carr
W. D-tZ"r. charged with brutality 10
prisoners in France. on several occasions
stood hy with a pistol IN one hand ana
black Jack in !h" Other whil" his SER
c,.,u,s ..hcal up n man IN his custody
according 10 testimony given tHday a'
his rnurl martial on Governors Island.
Thus testimony was given by Clarence
IL Lacey. Of Indianapolis. ono Of the
principal Witnesses fer tho prosecution.
from whom the defense. however. forced
AN admission that lac once had been con-
yictcd in Ohio. Of "a crime and that he
had faced various charges while in the
army.
Lacey an cX-Snld!cr. admitted he had
csrnprd from captain Deter. former
commander Of the 3QSth military police
company, after he had ben arrested by
him on Il slrct in lie Mans for being
absent without leave. The defense
brought out that he also had left his or
ganlzation in this country before II had
saird for France. and that IN 1914 ne
had been accused of dcscrtlnS from the
9Th cavalry.
Lacey's Story.
Lacey testified that he had first met
Deter when he had come out Of Gaze
with Private Fred NJ. Yates, now milf
tary prisoner, who il Is expected VIII De
calieI tomorrow by the prosecution.
He said DetZcr had challenged them.
that they lacked passes. but that Yates
had pretended he was taking him 70 the
prov ost 1narshars Office after having
found him in the railroad yards where
Government property was lying in freight
cars Lacey said Detzer ordered them 20
come along with him, but that after they
had gone Il short distance Yates dropped
his hand TO his revolver and told the
captain to heat it," DeiZcr did. accord
ing To Lacey. anu he and Yates fled, but
were later rc-arrcStcd:
Lacey testified that on being brought
before DER again. h" had received
rough treatment from him and his two
SERVANTS, l.. :. Madden and Frank l..
Hoyr. lie asserted that one" Deter had
ordered his Scrsrants to take him OUT,
siyC h!m 4 chance IL run and II didn
make him run thcn shoot and waste no
bullets"
liz raid he had been beaten dozen
. times. on seven occasion. before Deter.
who ac said. stood by with Il pistol IN
on" hand and n black jack in the other.
In addition, Lace! sand Deter had made
HIM sit on 4 bench for five days without
slcep. II hc duS"i off. he said. hc was
grabbed by the hair and pulled Ia his
feet. lie added that he had been made 10
sign false statements after he had "hrciI
led to believe he would be punished Ivy
,!crlh' II hc iiSUhcycd
In xamin:ng Lacey l.icul"nant
Thomas H. II"ff"rnan. defense counsel.
who at the opening Of the trial E""t"i
day declared tn. defendant Lad incurred
the wrath Of many hard characters
while abroad. asked tho witness IL nc
,ild not know "t talk OF getting Captain
Deter" lIc followed ihiS with another
question aS t. whether II was not true
II" had agreed with others to get to-
t,cIher on o:r. story" 70 both questions
Lacey replied in Ia" negative.
The whole day WAS marked by sharp
tilts between Lieutenant HcffcrEan and
Major WIn. Kelley. Judc" Advocate. who
raised nhjr"rI"n after objection when :ILs
/ uui"urcnr sought 10 attack the cridiblhty
, uf government by inqu!rinE into their
{ records.