The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-10-28
MARINES KILLED
2,259 HA|T|ANS
GENERAL BARNETT
MODIFIES FIGURE
Historian Blames Bandit At
tacks For Large Casualty

WasninEtou. Oct. "7--Public investi-
cation of the conduct OF american mar
ines in Haiti w,Ls begun today by the
special naval court OF inquiry with the
examination Of Brigad!vr General
George Barnett, former commandant OF
the Marine corps. and Major t.dmunl y.
Mcclellan. OF the corps historical divtS-
:on. The frst session lasted only lit
Ito more than an hour and while the
court will meet again TOMORROW, no lur-
thcr witnesses have yet been summoned.
General Barnett told the court that
his charge os "indiScrimi nate killing Of
natives in Haiti which prompted the in
uuiry had been based on the record OF
the court martial of two Marine corps
privateS. Walter h. Johnson and John
j. McQuilkin, Jr. lie corrected Il prev
ious announcement that total OF $3.50
natives had been killed IN action or
otherwise during the five years of Ann
erican occupation OF the republic. eN-
planning that an error in addition made
the by the historical section OF the
corps, resulted In this announcement. He
had learned aimee, he said. that the
total was 1850.
Major Mcclellan. In whose office the
casually list was compiled. submitted n
table showing the recorded number OF
bandits Killed. He said that very few
had met death otherwise than in action.
Native casualties in 1918, the first year
Of the occupation. were placed At az:
those in 1915. at 50; in 1917. =: in 1918.
20, IN lSl3, l,col. ana III iF-V ~.
Dus to Bandit Attacks
The wituess explained that the large
casualty list last year wts due to at
,acks in force by the bandits on Port
Nr Prince and 10 the campaigns con-
Quoted in the hills.
General Barnett said nc wanted Il
made clear that his letter of last year
TO Colonel John II. Russell. in which
the reference was made to 'lndiscrim-
mate killing" OF natives was based only
AA erf1 Af ~ fE.S.
Johuson and McQuilkin. He added. how
ever. that the statement OF counsel and
testimony in those cases so shocked him
shat he had directed further tnvestiGa-
tiou. He reiterated that by "indiscrtm-
mate killing" no had not meant prom
iscuous'' killings, but rather executions
without Judgment"
In marking the letter TO Colonct Rus
sell personal and confidential, Gcneotl
Rarnctt said he had two reasons. Tho
u.st was that no had already written
an official letter TO Secretary Danicls =
covering the case. The second was he
did not want 1t 10 become public prop
';It I we're permitted 20 make Il de-
tailed and chronological statement of
events as they occurred the whole term
OF our occupation OF HAITI. said the
general. II could soon clear this whole
thing up"
Replying to questions of Major Jesse
J.. Dyer. Judge advocate OF the court.
General Barnett said be had no personal
knowledge OF any improper acts by the
ma arineS and knew nothing OF alleged
unlawful executions OF natives until he
read the rportS of the two cases he re-
f"rrcd 20 in the letter 10 Colonel Rus
sell
Orc other case that OF Captain Ham
iton. now a llsutenant." he said. left
a. bad taste in my mouth although the
officer had been acquitted by court mar
t!al" Fear thai :herc might have been
cases in which eNoesSes were committed
and the culprn not brought TO justice.
he said. was another reason for the con-
iidcntial letter {" Colonel Russell. al
though SO far as he knew all cases oC
improper conduct OF marines In Haiti
had been brought 20 trial