Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-20
SAYS HE SAW
IL ARMY MEN
PUT TO DEATH
Former Soldier in A. E.
F. Before Senate
Committee.
COLONEL QUIZZED
Tells of Order in 1919
Stopping All Exc
cutiOnS.

WASHINGTON, Dec 20.-Twelye Amer
, lean soldiers were hanged at Camp VIII
son, Is-Sur-Tille, France, while he and
his buddies-former privates Of the 18th
| Pennsylvania) DivisiOn-looked on,
| George H. Taylor Of 2737 South Beulah
street, Philadelphia, testified today be
fore the Senate Committee investigating e
the charges of Senator Tom" Watson,
Democrat of Georgia, that American sol
diers We're illegally executed and inhu-
namely treated overseas during the World
| War.
Five of eight witnesses answered TO
their names and announced they were
prepared to testify. They were:
George II. Taylor, 2737 South Beulah
street, Philadelphia.
Henry L. Scott, Kenmore, Ohio.
| Joseph Housecamp, Is Central avenue,
Passaic y. J.
Robert NJ Harrison, 525 Murchison
building, Wilmington, n c.
Cochran Supplee, Isl West Quincy
street, Chicago.
At Watson's request, Col. Walter A.
Bethel. who was judge advocate general
with General Pershing's staff in France.
waS first called.
| He was questioned by Watson.
| can soldier be executed without the
confirmation of the sentence by the Pres
( identr" Watson asked Bethel.
'In time of war the Commander of
/ the Army in the field can order execution
of soldier without the approval of the
/ President" replied Bethel.
EXECUTIONS ORDERED
/ STOPPED IN 1919.
Bethel said that IN 1919 General Perish
/ ing received orders to allow no further
executions until they had been approved
by the President.
"why did the War Department issue
such an orderg' asked Watson.
II don't know, but thought it was an
/ appropriate move, since war practically
! had ended" answered Bethel
Would You not infer it was because of
/ the War Department at Washington dis
approving of continued executions!" per
sisted Watson.
! THAT is not my inference answered
Bethel
Can you differentiate between a gal
/ lows and gasoline cranef" asked Wat
/ son, handing Bethel a picture.
! Il never saw u gallows in my life,
but I suspect that's n gallows," answered
/ Bethel. looking ut Il photograph.
II want that in the record, because a
former officer named Cole ut Minneapolis
has stated one Of my pictures repre-
sented gasoline crane and not gal
| lows" said Watson, and | want Gale
summoned to testify"
Taylor declared there were Mt least
| twenty-eight Of his former 'buddies,
nearly all Philadelphians, who could cor
roborate his testimony.
IF YOU will furnish the committee
wit hthelr names we Will call them, SAID
| Brandegee, Republican, Connecticut, the
chairman.
Il Will give them to you" Taylor an
answered. They saw at out all l did
"Do you know whether they had been
! tried by court -martial?' asked Senator
man Brandegee.
NO. l don't" answered Taylor.
DO YOU know why they were hanged p
mo. l don't; they didn't tell us
THREE HANGED IN ONE
DAY. HE SAYS.
ION April -, 1919, saw three men hung
| In one day." testified Taylor, who said he
had offered Watson a photograph of the
hangings.
II got 1t from a French sergeant"
Taylor said.
II saw the first man, n negro sergeant.
hanging from the rope after the execu
! tiOn.
"There was a white sergeant, named
Blodgett," Taylor continued, Il think
| from Detroit, Mich, out of the aviation
company. girl was the accuser of
Blodgett, but Blodgett told me she had
come to his room at night and had asked
him for money. He denied his guilt to
Continued on Page Two.)