Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-30
COLONEL OPIE
Wants HEARING
ON CHARGES
Ex-Major Claims Charges
Before Senate Commit
tee Are Unf0unded
ACCUSED BY LUNATlC
Former World War Officer Asks to De
Given Fair Hearing-Many VII
nesses Named.

Staunton. Dec 3O.-Declaring that
"my reputation is more valuable thal'
life, and that it is my right as an
American citizen that these charges,
he proved or that | be vindicated'
Col. H. l.. Opie, of this city last night
dispatched a letter to +. B. Brande-
gee. chairman of the special commit
tee investigating charges made Dy
Senator Watson that American SOL
diers were executed in France with
out trial.
Colonel Opie, during the world war
major. in the 10th infantry was
charged before the committee recently
with having shot two soldiers Whlle
in the performance Of their duty.
Colonel ,Opies letter to Senator Bran
degee last night follows:
Hon. F. 3. Brandegee, Chairman Spe-
cial Investigating Committee,
United States Senate Chamber,
Washington, D. {.
Dear Sir
It is fearful commentary on JUS
tice. in this country that |, former
army officer, and now an unoffend,,
ing private citizen, who has served
long and honorably in the armed ser
vices of his country, should have his
name dragged in the mire daily,
through the mouthings of diseased
minds and deserters at the hands OF
Senator Watson. It can be readily
shown that the men who have brought
these charges against ME are mentaiiy
diseased or deserters and that tnere
is no: foundation for their state.
ments,s except imagination. One OF
them I am informed is IN the state
luna.tic asylum at Marion, Va. In
action / commanded battalion | was
almost continually with members OF
my staff or Headquarters group and
my every move can be accounted for
by responsible officers and men with
fighting records. | have scores of let
ters and kilograms from these and
other comrades placing their services
1t my disposal. If it had been neces-
sary to shoot men as charged or other
wise in the exigencies Of battle, these
soldiers would know it, and would
not deny it. My record in the service
Of my government IS an honorable
one; my reputation more valuable
than life. AS result of service rem
dered.I am charged before a high
committee of my government with
serious offenses. It is my right as an
American citizen that these charges
be proved or that / be vindicated.
Without having consulted with any
of the persons named as to the tes-
timony they will give, but having
confidence in their truth and fairness
and their own records of service, l
ask that the following officers and
men be summoned to give evidence
before your committees:
General Joe Lane Stern, Richmond,
Va, for character and general repu-
tation; United States Senator Carter
Glass, Lynchburg, Va, for character
and general reputation; Hon. Joseph
A. Glasgow, Staunton, for character
and general reputation; Major R. n.
Kelley, u. S. A, Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas, formerly colonel ll6th in
fantry; Lieutenant Colonel John A.
Cutchins, Mutual Building, Richmond,
Va, formerly chief of intelligence
18th division; Major G. NJ. Alexander,
Lynchburg, Va, formerly major l16th
infantry; Captain a. D.. Barksdale,
l.ynchburg, Va, formerly company
and battalion commander 116th in
fantry; Major a. L. Burnham, Lynch
burg, formerly major 116th infantry;
Captain Ewart Johnston, Winchester
Va, formerly of 10th infantry; A.
X. Stone, Fredericksburg. Va, for
merly first lieutenant 10th infantry
] Captain Beverly c. Wilkes. Ninth St,
Richmond. Va, formerly my battal-
ion adjutant; Captain Charles P. Ser
rett, Staunton, Va, formerly COM
manding Company NJ, 10th infan.
| try; DR.. Frederick Eosburgh, SO Mid,
land avenue, CART eld, n. j.. an army
surgeon one who was with me until we
J were both wounded in the same fight
!, Major Reese T. Crubert, Staunton, We.
machine gun officer of the 29th di
/ vision; Sergeant c. G.. Johnson, ILLUS
Va, battalion n. C. O., staff; Maio,
} F. H. Bondurant, Norfolk, Va, for
merly machine gun captain on IN,
( staff; Russell Fifer, Staunton, Va.
[ formerly with my sanitary detech
ment; Sergeant Charles Bryan, Staun
ton, Va. machine gunner: Mr. Jacl
owen, Care Owen and Barker, Lynch
burg, Va, formerly Sergts. Co. l..
ll6th infantry; S. D. Morrissett
Lynchburg, Va, formerly first ser
geant of Co. L, ll6th infantry; Cap
tain Joseph P. Ast, Staunton, Va.
I formerly machine gun officer, ll6tl
! infantry; Curtis L. Richmond, Nor
ton, Va, formerly sergeant, CO. z
lleth irfButsy; Charles F. Cox
Lynehburs, Va, my sergeant in eharg,
Of communications.
Nearly all Of these soldiers hsv,
writtea or wired me voluntarily ths
they will testify for me. l believ