The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-01-04
Found Rope Around ecksOfWorldW War
 Dead, Official Says

Washington, Jan. 4-Rufus P. Hubbard Of New York. employed by Servdce in preparing bodies of Amer tcan- soldiers for shipment from France, told a senate committee to- day that on three bodies disinterred he found a rope around the neck of each and g. black cap over each face.
 Called as the first witness at the resumption of the hearings of the committee Investigating charges by Senator Watson, Democrat, Georgia, that American soldiers were hanged without trial in France, Hubbard de- clared there was nothing Tn the COT fins by which the bodies could ut identified.
 cross on the outside of the coffln before the bodies were shipped to the United States for burial" Hubbard testified.
 Va. commander of the Third Bat talion, 116th Infantry, accused py Henry l.. Scott of Kenmore, Ohio. or having shot and killed two soldiers In France, was on hand with counsel to enter formal denial of the charge. Be- cause some of the witnesses were anxious to testify the return home there was no early reference of the Opie case.
 an assistant enlbalmer, Hubbard went into great detail while Chairman Rrandegee was attempting to find out what he knew about charges of illegal hangings-
 You've written a long letter: now tell,us in your own way what you know about the hanging charges Chairman Brandegee tnsfsted-
 While at 8 cemetery in France helping to get the bodies ready for shipment home" the witness said .'I saw three bodies brought up with the rope and black cap just as they Inc hanged. l think two were negroes and one white man. think it was a disgrace to the army that the bodies went to the parents without the black caps / The wi mess gave the names of sev- eral persons who were present at the cem etery with him.
 There was too much hurry in the registratron service.'' he continued, f'and many sad mistakes in ident1ri- cation were made
 There were no tags on ihe bodies of the three soldiers?" Seantor Over man, Democrat, North Carolina, asked.
 T did not see one." Hubbard re- piled.
 sariy identified shipped home as tden- 1ified ?" Senator Brandegee asked.
 They vTere.'' Hubbard replied.
 Many women in the crowded room who lost sons overseas leaned for ward to listen closely to Hubbard's long recital of ''carelessness," some with tears in their eyes
 DO you know if these men were executed in accordance win the 1aw?" the chairman asked
 "I do not"
 Have you any evidence that men were hanged without trdal?"
 Know anything of your own knowledge of cruelty?"
 Yes The said.
 It developed that what he wanted to tell was hearsay.
 Strike 1t out then," said the chair man.
 Bethel, acting judge advocate gener- al of the army. Hubbard said several hundred bodies were taken up at the French cemetery where he found three with ropes hooked around the neck.
 in different parts of the cemetery on the same day." he said. ''The rope was about three feet long. I took off the ropes"
 ''How many other men saw it?" Colonel Bethel asked.
 ''I don't know" adding that he did
 And the first report of it was made by you to Senator Watson?"
 "Yes sir"
 '~rhat's aIl,- exclaimed Colonel Bethel. while Hubbard was still try
 What prompted you to write me ?' asked Senator Watson, taking the witness stand.
 he replied. ~ +, or1a you have found it?"
 rT certainly would"