The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-20
STORY IS TOLD
ABOUT HANGINGS
Witness Says He Saw
Twelve Yanks Executed
Over in France
tBy Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON. Dec. 20.-George
H. Taylor, OF PhiladelphiaS VINO
served as a national army man over
seas. told a senate committee today
that he saw with his own eyes II
American soldiers hanged around
Issurtille, France, from April to
June, 1918. but was unable to say
whether any Of them had been con-
victed by court martial.
One of the soldiers hanged, he
declared, was tried for assault on
French girl. by French court
martial at which one American OF.
ficer was present. Taylor, gave thA
name OF the soldier and said he
was a\sergeant from Detroit, "Mich-
igan, but the committee later de-
cided to omit the name from Its
records. Rs
Robert a. Harrison, OF Whining.
ton, N. c.. testified that in 1917 he
witnessed the lynchIng in France
Of soldier. The victim was u
MexlcanG from FL PasO or Eagle
! Pass. Texas, who was charged with
a crime against woman and not
tried.
~ was told that the man had 20
be hanged to save some officers
from being cashiered," Harrison de.
clared.
Through a pair of field glasses
Harrison said he saw the lynching
in which 80 men took part.
ut was a nice little necktle par
H. II 1Nn 0Vs
with rope around the neck"
Harrison told of another lynchtng
after the armistice which he de.
clared was directed by Hard
Boiled" Smith. This wrist OF mine,' =
said Harrison, lifting his arm, "waH
broken while trying to save myself
from Hard Boiled Smith and q
couple OF his sergeants."
The witness said he saw Wen TAX.
en- to the firing line without gas
masks or guns as form OF punish
ment.
Pressed as to the cause of the
lynching. Harrison said the victim
had been ordered by Smith to
sweep the stock yard with tooth
brush land they had n little party
when he refused"
"Wore you court mArtialedT
Senator OvermGn asked.
"Yes. The colonel cursed me and
II cursed him back and he had mo
rent to the& firing line after trial.
His name Colonel HoldbroolH. II /
ever get him I'll make him remem.
ber me.
They wouldn't give, me q gas
slPpS rs u iiitfe
u sa NE lf1fs3 tsA reSaF6s 81 gtiflE. "
CJ1l6asT waiter Bethel, Gem
eral Fershing's3 Judge advocate
{! general in France, re-calle today
depIafed fhat5fn time of war court
martial death sentences did not
require approval Of the President,
| Questioned by Senator. Watson
he said that after war conditions
had ended the government direct
i ed that all sentences be forwarded
to Washington for review.
Colonel Bethel denied that 1t
was his inference, as suggested
by Senator Watson, that execu-
tiOns were continuing.
Before going into testimony the
committee listened to the reading
OF scores Of telegrams to and from
witnesses respecting their attend
ance. Many of them-former SER
vice mep-telegraphed that they
we're without funds, and in these
cases arrangements were made to
provide transportation. Several OF
the men summoned replied that
they could not come for three
dollars q day subsistence, the SEN
ate allowance. We'll come for
! seven dollars a day." said one for
mer soldier, and another remand
ing the same rate, said tho vet
Grams bureau paid $3.50.
The statement or William Cow
les, Of Minneapolis. that the pic
turre at Gievecs purporting to be
OF a gallows was in reality that
of n crane. was presented.
Conlonel Bethel was shown q
picture and asked II it was gal
lows or q gasoline crane. He re-
piled:
1T looks like ga1lows, but. ]
never saw a gallows in my life"
The case OF conscientious OBJ
jector named Fry who refused to
carry his pack and who was kill
! ed by order Of the guard was
brought up.
"The man who killed the sol,
dIer was tried and acquitted,
Colonel eBthe1 testified.
"Tt is our contention" said Sen
ator Watson, "that Fry was kill
| ed by Sergeant who drove
bayonet through his heart"
/ Does the record show
! ITS,,,SFvro4 oyI nRRA elwhkl