Omaha daily bee., 1921-12-09
IL Soldiers
Executed
In A. E. F.
Former Assistant Judge Advo-
cate in France Testifies on
Executions at Watson
Hearing.
Afhdavits Are Presented

Washington. Dee. s.-Elevcn mem
bers OF the American eXpeditionary
forces were hanged i'll France after
conviction by a military court mar
tial. Col. Walter Bethel, assistant
Judge advocate general Of the army,
testified today before the senate COM
mittee investigating charges by Sem
ator Watson. democrat, Georgia,
that American soldiers were hanged
Y without trial ia France.
Al Colonel Bethel, who was General
nershings chief legal advisor over
Nas, appeared before the committee
N{iter Senator Watson in an opening
n Atatement had presented number OF
= Dafidav,s and letters from former
soldiers to support his charges.
At Gievres.
did you ever see a gallows at
Gievres?' Colonel Bethel was asked.
YES" he said, "one was erected
there for execution of a convicted
soldier"
1t was at Gievres. according to
information given Senator Watson
by former service men, that soldiers
were hanged without trial.
Colonel Bethel informed the cont
mittee that the American military
authorities had exclusive jurisdiction
over the American army and the
French never attempted to exercise
jurisdiction in criminal cases.
Tells of Executions.
The first of the II executed, he
said was convicted OF murder and
assault and the second, a negro SOL
dier, assault on French woman 6S
years old
The third and fourth executions,
the Colonel said. also were for rape,
both soldiers hanged after trial being
negroes.
After testifying that the first 9
cases we're for assault, the witness
testified that the seventh case was
that of negro soldier who murdered
a French professor as the latter at
teMpted to save a woman from A mob
oi rowdes. Case Number 8, was the
hanging Of a white soldier who at
tempted assault on all S-year-old
Belgian girl.
Hanging Of White Men.
Next was the hanging of a white
soldier for numbering another white
soldier, the crime being characterized
4 by Col Bethel as particular atrocious.
The last case, The hanging of two
negro soldiers together was after
conviction for assaulting a French
girl and numbering her father as he
attempted to save her.
Senator Watson presented an af-
fidavit BY Samuel Long of Paterson
n. J., alleging that he saw private
soldier killed by sergeant with q
bayonet because he was a Conscientious
'objcctor and refused to carry gun.
Two other afhdavits of similar
character were presented.
According to an affidavit by Henry
L. Scott of Kenmore. O., major
openly shot and killed two soldiers
without provocation. Scott wa:
ordered subpoenaed.
Can you give us an instance
where private soldier was arbitrar-
lily arrested and hanged" Chairman
Brandegee.
Yes, | expect to get to that as FAST
as cam Senator Watson replied.
The inquiry then drifted into
charges OF stealing by soldiers.
"To Save, Not to Pillage."
Il understand we went over tc
save France. not to pillage her." sale
Chairman Brandeeee, to Which Sen
ator Watson replied human nature
often went wrong when man wa:
hungry.
Senator Overman, democrat
North Carolina, read an order BY
American military authorities il
France for public horse-whipping o
men guilty of theft, designed, he said
to break up that sort CT crime.
Writing from Devils Lake, n. D.
DR.. w. D. Jones. in letter to Sena
- tor Watson, read to the committee
declared his son, a marine, told hin
OF the execution OF a negro soldie
without court-martial.
The negro, according tc the doc
tors son, gave money to a F-encl
girl, and on her refusal to return ii
he took it forcibly. Fer this, it wa
alleged, the negro was hanged.
1t developed that young Jones be
longed to the 10Th company marines
lie was ordered summoned.