The New York herald., 1921-12-21
A. E. F. MEN PROVE
NO ILLEGAL HANGING
Direct Evidence to Support
Watson Charges Lacking
at Inquiry.
HARD BOILED RECALLED
One Witness Tells of Three,
Then Four, Then Twelve
Lynchings.

Iy lICllHSS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.--None of the
six witnesses appearing to-day be-
fore Senate committee was able to
give first hand evidence to support
charges by Senator Watson. Democrat
(Ga.), that American soldiers had been
hanged without trial in France.
George II Taylor of Philadelphia,
thin and frail and under treatment, as
he explained. for epilepsy, declared he
had seen twelve soldiers hanged. or
one more than the number officially
listed by the War Department as put
to death in accordance with courts
martial verdicts approved by Gen.
Pershing
Taylor, confused on the number of
victims, testified at first that he had
seen three, and then under direct
questioning increased his figures 70
four, jumping finally to twelve. All of
these, he declared, were put to death
in and around Is-sur-Tille between
April and June, 1919,
In no instance could the witness
say he knew whether any or all of the
twelve had been tried by a military
court.
Because of the evident physical weak
nesa OF the witness Senator Watson
suggested that army officers. including
Col Walter Bethel. Assistant Judge
Advocate General, retire from the room,
explaining that Taylor was subject to
epileptic attacks and that the presence
of officers might disturb him. But the
former soldier announced that he wanted
the officers to remain.
Major Disputes Testimony.
Testimony by Henry l.. Scott 22. of
Kenmore. Ohio, that he had seen two
soldiers shot down in cold blood by
Major Opley," commander of the Third
Battalion, 116th Infantry, brought
quick and sharp denial from Major
Hiram l.. Opie at his home at Staunton.
Va He was in charge of the battalion
and announced, he would be glad TO go
before the comnfttee. Scott was positive
In the assertion that he saw both men
killed. at different times, that the first
shoe ting OF a courier was witnessed by
several hundred men and that he alone
saw the second.
Having Major Opie in mind as con-
mander of the battalion, Col. Bethel
pressed the witness closely as to the
spelling OF the name, and later Informed
Chairman Brandegee privately that
s~AfA
Virginian. But Scott stuck to "Opley."
In making sweeping denial of the
charge. Major Opie, at Staunton. said
Scott writes himself down az skulk-
er by his own testimony" that he be-
longed to another outfit and never
should have been in the lighting line
with the Third Battalion.
Names "Hard Boiled" smith.
Robert A. Harrison of Wilmington,
y. C., told the committee he had wit
nessed two lynchings." one conducted
by Hard Boiled" Smith. One soldier. he
said. was put to death for refusing 10
sweep a stockade with a tooth brush
The killing. az he remembered II. took
place on December 20, 1918. at :5c
O'Clock In the evening. Harrison said he
saw the lynching from n distance OF sou
yards. The other man lynched. he said
was "a Mexican. who was strung from a
tree. by officers and enlisted men Tor
crime against a woman.
In an effort TO clear UP what he re-
rar1ed as the confusion In TayloTs tes-
tirnony. Chairman BrandeEee suggested
that Col. Bethel question the witness
concerning the twelve executions he said
he had seen with his own eyes.
Early IN the hearing Col. Bethel filed
with the committee tho official War De-
partmsnt list OF eleven executions, with
7 lace and dates. emitting only the names
out 81 consideration for the families OF
the dead.
The department list showed that two
soldicrp were hanCed after trial at
Ts-sur-T lille, and II was thu officers con-
,eution that Taylor was present with
other enlisted men and officers. Tay-
lor's testimony was regarded IN the
nature % a confirmation Of Col. Bethefs
conciurion in this respect, as he did
brow tie name of one of the two sol
dsrs legally executed az that place.
After hearing witnesses tomorrow
the committee will adjourn until after
the holidays.
Tr telling his story % the Twelve ex-
ccutions" Taylor said one of the soldiers
hanged was tried for assault on
French girl by n French court-nartial.
az which one American officer vas pres
ent. Tayior gave the name of the sol
iier and said he was a sergeant from
Detroit. Mich. but the committee later
decided 90 omit rhe name from It's
records
Questioned by senator Watson. Taylor
asserted that the evidence In the court
martial 90 tho Detroit sergeant was In
French. but an Interpreter was in at
tendance.
WAS the man allowed COUNSEL Scna-
tor Brandegee asked.
zone American officer was there. lie
asked some questions"
After the hanging. Taylor said. he
Continued on Page Four.
The t;ree,nr,er. wnue sulphur sprinss