The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-04-13
SENSATIONAL CHARGES OF HUMAN BUTCHERY "
MADE AGAINST GENERAL SEMEN0FF BY TWO
LEADERS OF j, S. ExPED|TI0NARY FORCES
Instance After Instance of
Murder, Rape and Banditry
Given By General Graves
and Colonel Morrow Before
Senate Labor Committee.

Washington, April 12.-Chargcs OF
human "butchery" made by Senator
Borah, Republican. Idaho, against Gen.
eral Gregorie Semenon, Russian anti
Bolsheyiki leader, were testified 10 to-
day before the senate labor committee
by two leaders Of the American e1pe-
dictionary forces in Siberia, Brigadier
General W. S. Graves, commander and
Lieut.. Col. Charles P. Morrow, his
chief aide, who gave instance after In
stance OF murder, rape and banditry
which occurred during the period OF
American occupation Of the region.
Called before the committee in the
investigation which Chairman Borah
hopes may lead to deportation OF Zen.
eral Semenoff, now under arrest in a
civil case in New York, the two army
officers gave accounts OF crime de-
scribed as unbelievable unless wit
nessed," excerpts from official army
records and other evidence covering
the period between September 1918.
and April. 1920, Of a nature seldom II
ever laid before a congressional COM
mittee. At the conclusion Mr.. Borah
turned to Colonel Morrow, the witness,
and said:
Semenoff Responsible.
You were there. Now tell us who,
in your opinion, was responsible
"Semcnoff." Colonel Morrow shot
back. Anybody who was in that part
Of the world at that time knows that
he was responsible"
The committee plans to continue the
hearing tomorrow. when other army
officers will be heard.
General Semenoff was represented
at the hearing by his attorney, John
Kirkland Clark OF New York, who an.
nounced that he would attempt to have
the Russian officer come here to tes-
lify. lie said also he would ask Col.
Kroupsky. the generals aide and inter.
prefer, to appear in defense Of his
chief
Mr.. Clark was not sure, however,
that General Semenoti would be al.
lowed to leave the state, because Of
his being under arrest and Mr.. Borah
said it was not the intention Of the
committee to subpoena the general at
this time.
Called BRUTAL Murderer"
General Graves branded the Russian
general as brutal murderer and
declared he had not regretted one OF
the crimes with which he was charged.
Mr.. Clark inquired il 1t were no.
probable that General Semenoff knew
nothing Of them. or il it might not be
that General kolchek. the supreme"
anti-Bo1sheviki commander, had or
dered the acts committed.
General Graves, however declared il
was not possible for the situation to
have escaped General Semenoffs no.
tice.
Colonel Morrow said before he left
Siberia in January. 1920, his command
had disarmed $500 Of Semenoff's SOL
diers. adding that had he remained
longer all OF them would have been
disarmed. Outside influence" how
ever. he said; was exerted. preventing
the Americans and the Czechs who
were cooperating with them from car
rying out the purpose.
What outside influence do YOU
mean" Mr. Clark asked
"a do not care 10 60 into that re-
piled Col. Morrow. but | assure you
there was the outside influence"
Discussing the "butchery charges"
General Graves recited how at half a
dozen points in the interior of Siberia
Russians were hauled by trainloads to
the slaughter ground and shot without
trial.