The Washington times., 1922-01-10
'HARD-BO|LED'
SMITH LINKED
|NWATSONQU|z.
Hearings Resume, With Probe OF
Rue ST. Anne Hanging
Promised.
by international New. Service.


Investigation into the Watson
charges that American soldiers In
| France were Unfortunately shot
| and hanged by their officers was
| resumed today by the Senatorial
committee before a room packed with
| spectators and witnesses. eager to
| testify. -
Senator Watson Dem.) of Georgia.
author Of the investigation, declared
| at the outset that an effort would
| be made to get in touch with Frank
III. c'Hard- Boiled'D Smith, to clear up
| the date Of Benjamin F. King, a
Wilmington. N. c.. soldier. who, &C
cording to testimony, was the victim
| Of a lynching bee at the famous Rue
st. Anne prison in Paris. Smith
| Is now supposed to be in the Next
| can army.
The records in the King case show
that he was wounded in action and
not seen again." but Robert A. Harri.
son, one of the witnesses, testified
that King met death at the end Of a
hangman's moose.
Reported Killed in Action.
Senator Watson questioned closely
Col. Walter A. Bethel, former adju-
tant general of the A. f. F.
"Why is it," he demanded, that
Senator Simmons Of North Carolina
and Kings mother have been in cor.
respondence with the War Depart.
ment for several years and could get
no information about this boys death
until II was testified here that he was
hanged?"
| "All I know" replied Bethel. 'fs
that the records show he was killed in
action"
Has any effort been made to get
in touch with 'Hardboiled' SMITH"
Watson asked.
| NO" said Bethel, IT understand
he is in the Mexican army"
II want the names of the officers at
this prison when King was reported
hanged" declared Senator OvermaD
| North Carolina), also a member of the
committee.
Senator Overman read a letter from
Col. Lucius +. Holbrook, of San Fran
CISCO, who was accused by Robert A
Harrison, of Wilmington, N. c.. Of hav-
ing been abused by Holbrook and sent
to the front without gas mask. Hol-
brook denied all the charges of Harrl-
son.
Watson announced he wanted Hol-
brook summoned for cross-examina-
ton.
BY what authority did court
martial order a man hanged instead
OF shot?" asked Br, ndagee.
Based on custom-the articles OF
war are silent on that. We followed
the British manual" replied Bethel.
Bethel revealed that he was re-
sponsible for the reduction Of sem
tence from three years to eighteen
months in the case Of Hard.Boiled
Smith.
II advised General Pershing
thought eighteen months was enough
for the case"
Bethel. under examination by Wat.
son, declared Smith was convicted Of
numerous "outrages" and brutalities
against American soldiers.
| When the committee resumed to-
day there were half dozen wit
nesses on hand to testify concern
ing the charges that have been made
against Major H. L. opie. Of Staun-
ton, Va, that he shot down his own
men. opie tearfully denied these
charges last week. He was accom-
panied today by his counsel, Col.
John H. Cutchens.
| Declares Opie Shot Man.
Charles e. Fox, of 1928 Floy av.
enue, Richmond. Va. corroborated
a story that had previously been
told, and which Opie had denied, that
the major killed one of his own
runners.
While I was hurryfng grenades, {"
testified Fox today, II saw runner
approach Major Opie. couldn't hear
the words, but I saw Opie pull his
gun and shoot him.
Major Opie stood there q minute
and then walked away" said Fox.
Opie was present and heard the tes-
timony. He twirled his fingers nerv.
ously while Fox told his story.
why didn't you tell your superior
officer?" asked Senator Brandegee.
THAT guy'd shoot you" replied Fox
"He don't take no foolishness. An en-
listed man can't buck an officer"
Fox gave the name of his superior
officer as Lieutenant Mooring, Boz
662, Cashier, Wyo.
HE never dared come back to Rich.
mond since he went away with b com.
pany" said Fox. WED have got him