The New York herald., 1920-01-04
FREE
OF TREASON STAIN,
TELLS WAR STORY
A. E. F. Soldier, Back in Brook
lyn, Describes How He Out
witted Germans in Prison.

Lawrence Perlmutter twenty-one years
old, Brooklyn soldier, who was pardoned
by Secretary Baker after he had been
sentenced to twenty years for treason,
yesterday told his story at the home Of
his sister, Mrs. Gustave Katz, No. 57i
Foryt-fourth street, Brooklyn. Perlmut-
ter was the only American soldier con-
victed Of treason during the war. He was
released from Fort Leavenworth Prison
on Wednesday and arrived In Brooklyn
on Friday night.
The release OF Perlmutter was obtained
through Representative Isaac Siegel. who
demonstrated to the satisfaction OF Mr..
Baker that Perlmutter was unjustly con-
victed.
Perlmutter shows signs OF his six
months imprisonment but admitted that
he was treated considerably by the prison
authorities at Leavenworth, probably be-
Icause none believed him guilty. Although
military law requires two witnesses to cs-
tablish reasonable utterances, Lieutenant
William III. Gordon was the only accuser
in Perlmutters case.
II enlisted two years ago, when I was
nineteen years old, in the Ninth Infantry"
said Pearlmutter. The Ninth was part
of the Second Division. l was assigned
to the Medical Detachment
Il was in the Troyen sector on April l3,
1913. The officer in charge OF the little
squad of eight privates was Lieutenant
Gordon. When we were captured by the
Germans he was the first man out OF the
dugout, throwing up his hands ana
siog "Kamarad." We were taken to Spada
and questioned
II am unfamiliar with the German
language, but I speak Yiddsh. Some of
the German officers hurled all kinds of
questions at me, such as the strength OF
my regiment, the names of otflcers In
command, the approximate number Of
Americans fighting and what were their
sentiments concerning the war l gave
Incorrect answers. l was then allowed
to go and was taken back to camp, where
L aided nearly one hundred Frenchmen
to escape. / also helped two American
airmen to get away. but they were cap
tured few days later.
"Some one must have 'squealed' on me
for was arrested and courtmartaled Tor
lisobedience or orders and assisting pris-
oners to escape. / was found guilty and
sent to the stone ouarries.
"A Canadian soldier slashed my arm
twenty-five times and applied poultfce OF
soap and wet bread which caused the arm
TO swell to three times its natural size.
Two days before I was to be sent to the
quarrieS, was examined py DOCTOR anu
the wounds discovered. I was sent to soli-
tary confinement for two weeks. with no
food except bread and sta gnant water.
while was thus confined the arinistice
was signed and was transferred back to
the American Army. l travelled with the
army through Metz, Nancy and Toul, when
was arrested on a charge of treason on
Gordon's complaint. I was Informed that
had given valuable Information TO the
Germans. Gordon, then "a captain. was the
principal and only witness against me.
Seven prlvates also testified, but they re-
fused to corroborate Gerdon's charges But
rust the same was found guilty and sent
back to America last June and transferred
to L.eavenworth."
Perlmutter said he would enlist again II
the country needed him. My vindication
has been complete he said. Il owe 1t all
to my mother and sister and Representa-
tive iSegel."