Evening star., 1921-12-08
TELLS OF HANGING
OF A.E.F. MEN
Col. Bethel Testifies Consic.
tion by Court-MartiaI Pre-
ceded Each.

Eleven members of the American
expeditionary force were hanged in
France after conviction by military
court-martial, Col. Walter f. Bethel
assistant judge advocate general of
the Army. testified today. before the
s nat e committee investigating
charges by Senator Watson. demo-
crat, Georgia. that American soldiers
were hanged illegally and without
trial in France.
Col. Bethel. who was Gen. PERISH
ing's chief legal adviser overseas, ap-
peared before the committee after
!! Senator Watson, in an opening state
ment. had presented a number of af-
fidavits and letters from former sol
diers to support his charges.
Did you ever see a gallows at
Gfevres?" Col. Bethel was asked
Yes" he said, "one was erected
there for execution of a convicted
soldier"
1t was at Gievres. according to in
former service men, that soldiers were
hanged without trial.
Many Are Summoned.
Il cannot vouch for anything ex-
cept what these men have said to
me-" Senator Watson said. as he con-
cluded his opening statement Il as
sumo men would not tell me they
were ready and willing to come here
and testify regardless of conse-
Quences unless the facts were true"
A number of those mentioned by the
Georgia senator were summoned be-
fore the committee. including Mr.
portant witnesses, and evidence of his
own.
Col. Bethel informed the committee
that the American military authori-
ties had exclusive jurisdiction over
the American Army and the French
never attempted to exercise juriSdic-
tion in criminal cases.
The first of the eleven executed, he
said, was convicted of murder and
rape and the second. negro soldier,
for rape on a French woman sixty
eight years old
Evidence Carefully Read.
TN every case where we recon-
mended the death sentence" he said.
"I read the evidence carefully to see
that no mistake had been made"
The third and fourth executions. the
colonel said. also were for rape. both
soldiers hanged after trial. being
negroes.
davit by Samuel Long of Paterson, n.
J.. alleging that he saw private SOL
dier killed by a sergeant with bayo-
net because he was conscientious
objector and refused to carry a gun.
Two other affidavits of similar
character were presented.
$50. we see," said the Georgia sena-
tor, three instances where privates
were killed by their superiors without
provocation and without trial"
Hung by Wrists.
Kenneth c. Robinson of Washing
ton, D. c.. in an affidavit, said he saw
a private suspended by the wrists
from a tree from 1880 pm. to am.
and then knocked down by a colonel
because he refused TO work on bread
and water.
According to an affidavit by Henry
L., Scott of Kenmore. Ohio. major
openly shot and killed two soldiers
"without provocation." Scott was
|: .Can you give us an instance where
,. a private soldier was arbitrarily ar
rested and hanged?" Chairman Bran
degee asked.
Yes I expect to get to that as fast
as can" Senator Watson replied.
The inquiry then drifted into
charges of stealing by soldiers.
Il understand we went over to save
France, not to pillage her." said
Chairman Brandegee, to which Sena-
tor Watson replied human nature
often went wrong when man was
hungry.
Senator Overman, democrat, North
Carolina, read an order by American
military authorities in France for
public horsewhipping of men guilty
Of theft. designed, he said, to break
up that sort of crime.
Hung without Court Martial
writing from Devils Lake, N. D., DR..
W, d. Jones, in letter to Senator
Watson, read to the committee. de-
ciared his son.. marine, told him of
the execution of a negro soldier with
out court martial.
The negro. according to the doc
tors son, gave money to a French
girl, and on her refusal to return it
he took it forcibly. For this. 1t was
alleged, the negro was hanged.
1t developed that young Jones be-
lbnged to the 18th Company Regiment
of marines. He was subpoenaed.
Senator Watson presented an
afidavit by Pope Golden. former
service man in Georgia, declaring he
saw a soldier killed by order of a
major in the Argonne because he at
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