New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
Killed Haytians
In Jail Break.
Marine Insists
Sergeant's Accuser, Cross
Examined, Sticks to Testi-
mony Three Slain Cap
tives We're Not Escaping
New Eyewitness Appears
Corroborates Charge as to
One Death; Tells of An
other Prisoner Tortured
By Wilbur Forrest
Special Cabrs to The Triou-.s

Ccpyr!ght. 1920. New York Tribune Inc.
rORT-AU-PRINCE, Hayti, Nov. 18.-
freeman Lang, former sergeant in the
Marine Corps, who was accused yester-
dsy by witness before the naval board
Investigating the conduct of the ma
rines of killing three Haytian prison
ers at Hinche Jail in 1917, took the.
stand in his own defense to-day. For
two hours before the naval board he
maintained that the three prisoners
we're shot when they attempted to es-
cape.
Lang. who formerly lived in Los An
seles and is now in business in Hinche,
had retained DR.. C. V. Rault, of New
Orleans, navy dentist, as his counsel.
Lang is tall blond seemingly of
Teutonic extraction. On the witness
stand he was exceedingly nervous, fre-
auentiy wiping off his brow with his
handkerchief as questions were put to
him.
Hsytian's Testimony Unshaken
Adolph Bourgot, a native Haytian,
Who made the charges against Lang,
yssppeared on the stand. He stood
ssolidly by his story of the killing of
the natives, not deviating from his
original statements, despite Rault's
efforts by carefully worded questions
10 force the witness to contradict him
self.
The case against Lang was strength.
ened by the testimony of Maratus
Toussaint, black private in the gen
dsrmerie, who told the naval board
that he had been an eyewitness Of one
Of the killings in the prison ward at
Hinche, referred to by Bourgot. Tous-
saint also testified that he had seen
Lang, on another occasion, apply an
electric current to a prisoner in the
jail to make him talk. The witness
said that the prisoner died two days
later, although he was not sure that
death had been caused by the exposure
to the electric current.
Severe cross-examination by Rault
failed to shake the story of either wit
ness.
Assert Moon Was Shining
Both witnesses testified that Lang
drew his automatic pistol and shot the
prisoners at distance of ten feet.
while Bourgot and Toussaint were less
than fifteen feet away. Both said that
they did not know that the men shot
we're cacos (native bandits). The time
Of the shooting was 10 o'clock at night.
The moon was shining, and in the dim
light, Toussaint said, he had seen Lang
draw and point his weapon and fire.
Ioussaint admitted that he saw only
the first prisoner killed.
The defense offered little evidence
to support Lang's assertion that he
hred at the prisoners as they were
trying to escape. No denial has been
made by the defense that it was moon
light and that both Bourgot and Tous-
saint were within easy seeing distance.
Thomas F. Grant, formerly an officer
In the genarmerie on duty in the in
terror of Hayti, told the naval board
that Harris Lipschits, an American of
Russian extraction, who testified YES
tterday, had on numerous occasions
brought false reports to him of alleged
crimes Investigation disproved Lip
scnitss reports, the witness said.
Denies Escape was Attempted
P0RT-AU-PRINCE, Nov. 1s (Bv The
Associated Press) .-Toussaint testified
mat Lang called prisoner from the
hinche jail in 1918, questioned him
and killed him with machine gun at
tel PAGES while the prisoner was walk
ing quietly away. The witness denied
w, she victim was trying to escape when
bourgot testified that the three Hay
uan prisoners at Hinche were brought
out by sergeant on Lang's order and
shot in quick succession
Al saw Lang take revolver from
bis holster and FIRE while the sentry
stood before the door" Bourgot de-
clared. He denied he had been i'm
prlsoned in connection with com
municating with bandits.
Langs case had not been completed
wnen court took recess until to-mor-