The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-19
CLEAN BILL GIVEN
 MARINES IN HAITI IN COURTS REPORT
No Proper Grounds for Indis- criminate Killing Charges, Which Are Declared Re-
 grettable
By Associated Press

which investigated the conduct of marines in Haiti reported to Secretary Daniels today that there "had been no proper grounds" for the statement by Brig. Gen. George Barnett, for mer commandant of the ma- rine corps, that the American occupation forces had been guilty of practically indis- criminate killing" of Haitiens. After careful survey of conditions, the court, presided over by Rear Ad- lniral Henry T. Mayo, found that Gen teral Barnetts charges were 'lH-con- isidered, regrettable and thoroughly un- warranted reflections" on the work of the marine corps in Haiti, adding that the corps had performed difficult, dan gerous and delicate duty worthy of the highest commendation.
 The marines virtually were given
 a clean bill by the court. which de-
 clined to recommend trial by court
 martial of Freeman Lang of Los
 Angeles and Doras Williams of
 Birmingham, charged by native
 witnesses at the Port Au Prince
 hearing with the murder of Hail
 items. Indeed. the Lang and Will
 Iiams cases were not mentioned.
 and naval officials explained that
 this meant that evidence against
 them was not deemed sufficient ts
 demand criminaA prosecution.
 In all isolated" cases of unjustifi- L1 Ir,rf hx4 rir hp found that disciplinary action already had been taken.
 The findings, as made public, were approved by Secretary Daniels and Maj. Gen. John A. LeJeune, commander of the marine corps.
 TEXT OF FINDINS
 The full text of the courts findings follows:
 The court finds that two unjustifi- able homicides have been commi. .ted, one each by two of the personnel of 9the United States naval service which has served in Haiti since July aS, 1915. and that Is other serious acts of vio- lence have been perpetrated against citizens of Haiti during the same period by individuals of such person. mel. @
 The court finds further that these offenses were all isolated acts of in dividuals, and that in every case the responsible party was duly brought to trial before general court-martill. convicted and sentenced.
 The court has found no evidence of the commission of any other unjustifi- able homicides or other serious uni lsti- liable acts of oppression or of}violence against any of the citizens of Haiti or unjustifaible damage or destruction of their property caused by any of the personnel in question.
 In view of the fact that the only unjustifiable acts found by the court to have been committed are those wherein disciplinary action has already been taken, and where no further pro- ceedings could be- had in the natter the court has not deemed it necessary to report further upon the question of responsibility.
 CONCLUSIONS OF COURT
 Referring to paragraph two of the precept, it is the conclusion of the court that there have been no proper grounds for the statement that tprac- tically indiscriminate killing of 1aives has been going on for osme time," as < alleged in the letter from Brig Gen. aGeorge Barnett, United States marine corps, to Col. John H. Russell, United states marine corps.
 Referring to the amendment 10 the precept, calling for the conclusions of the court as to the general conduct of the personnel of the naval service in Haiti since July 2S. 1915, the court does not consider that the small num- Der of isolated crimes or offenses that have been committed by few in- dividuals of the service during the period in question are entitled to any considerable weight in forming con- clusion as to the general conduct of such personnel
 However, considerfng the condi-
 tons of service in Haiti, it is re-
 markable that the Offenses were
 70 few fin number and that they all
 may be chargeable to the ordinary
 defects of human character, such
 defects as result in the commission
 of similar offenses in the United
 States and elsewhere in the best
 regulated communities.
 The general conduct of our troops of occupation can be fairly judged by the results of that occupation.
 FIRST PEACE IN CENTURY
 Now for the first time in more than 100 years tranquility and securing of life and property may be said to i, prevail in Haiti.
 The Haitien people themselves well comed the coming of our men and are unwilling to have them depart.
 The establishment and maintenance of tranquil conditions and the security of life and property all over the repub- lic of Haiti has been an arduous and dangerous and thankless task. That task our marines have performed with fidelity and great gallantry.
 The court cannot refrain from re- ccrding its opinion of much. and that the most serious part, of the reflec- tions which have been made upon the officers who have served in Haiti.
 The outstanding characteristic Of those officers, from the brigade com mander down, has been. their sym pathetic attitude toward every step that would lead to betterment of the country and of improvement in the physical, mental and moral conditions of the population.
 With slender resources and inade- quate administrative authority, they have accomplished much, where any, thing more than suppression of or ganized insurrection seemed impos- sible.
 The above remarks apply with partic- ular force to those officers and en- listed men of the marine corps who have been serving as officers of the gendarmerie of Haiti.
 {, CHARGES UNWARRANTED J { After careful study of the matters l, tn issue, based not only on the evidence
 tcs.tiaued en Page I've,