The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-01-05
SAW BODIES With.
ROPES ABOUT NECK
Testimony Before PrObers Of
Soldier Executions In France.
BLACK CAPS ever FACES
Witness Disinterred Remains Of These
Three, But Knew Nothing About
Hangings-Major Opie Appears.

Witness Disinterred Remains Of These
Three, But Knew Nothing About
Hangings-Major opie Appears.
Washington, Jan. 5.-Rufus p. Hub.
bard, of New York, employed by the
American graves registration service
| in preparing the bodies of American
soldiers for shipment from France,
told a senate committee that on three
bodies disinterred he found rope
around the neck of each and black
cap over each face.
Called as the first witness at the
resumption of the hearings of the com,
- investigating charges by Sen,
a.v. ,vn, Democrat, Georgia, that
American soldiers were hanged with.
out trial in France, Hubbard declared
there was nothing in the cOftinS by
which the bodies could be identified.
THE bodies were identified by the
cross on the outside of the coffin, and
the black caps were not removed be.
fore the bodies were shipped to the
United States for burial" Hubbard
testified
Major Hierame Opie, of StauntOn,
Va, commander of the third battalion,
1lGth infantry, accused by Henry L.
Scott, of Kenmore, o., of having shot
and killed two soldiers in France, was
on hand with counsel to enter formal
denial of the charge Because SON.,
of the witnesses were anxious to teS-
tify and return home there was no
early reference of the Opie case.
Describing his work in the field as
an assistant embalmer, Hubbard went
into great detail, while Chairman
Brandegee was attempting to find out
what he knew about charges Of illegal
hangings.
while at a cemetery in France,
helping to get the bodies ready for
shipment home," the witness said, 81
saw three bodies brought up with the
rope and black cap, just as they were
when the men were hanged. l think
two were negroes and one white
man. l think it was a disgrace to the
army that the bodies went to the pa
rents without the black caps being re-
moved"
The witness gave the names Of sew
eral persons who were present at the
cemetery with him.
There was too much hurry In the
registration service" he continued,
"dnd many sad mistakes in identifica-
tiOn were made"
There were no tags on the b0di@,
of the three .isSgSepat taS e.
man, Democrat, North Carolina, ASK
ed. 81 did not see one," Hubbard re-
piled.
Were bodies that were not proper
ly identified shipped home as identi-
fed" Senator Brandegee asked.
"They were," Hubbard replied.
Many women on the crowded room
who lost sons overseas leaned forward
and listened closely to Hubbard's long
recital of "carelessness, some with
tears in their eyes.
do you know if those three men
were executed in accordance with the
law?" the chairman asked.
81 do not"
"Have you any evidence that men
were hanged without trial?"
mo, SIR"
Examined by Colonel Walter A.
Bethel, acting judge advocate general
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.
"The three bodies were taken up in
different parts of the cemetery on the
same day." he said. 1.-THE rope was
about three feet long. I took off the
ropes"
"How many other men saw it?"
Colonel Bethel asked.
81 don't know" adding that he did
not report the case.
"And the first report of 1t was made
by you to Senator Watson"
"Yes, sir"
"That's all I' exclaimed Colonel
Bethel, while Hubbard was still trying
to get along with his story.
"What prompted you to write me?'
asked Senator Watson, taking the wit
ness.
my duty as a former service man."
he replied.
"If the tag had been there would you
have found it?"
81 certainly would"
Hubbard insisted that the bodies of
the three soldiers hanged" were iden-
titled by the cross on each grave, and
he presumed they went to the si9ht
parents.
Polk Golden, young farmer OF New
man, Ca, who served overseas, wis
questioned concerning letter he re-
Gently wrote Senator Watson to the
effect that a soldier was shot by or
ders of a major because he went to a
spring to get water. The men, he said,
were ordered to remain under cover,
and a soldier, disobeying, started to-
wards the spring and was shot. A
battle was raging nearby and guards,
he said, were trying to conceal the
position of the squad.
Golden also testified that he saw an
officer shoot a private in the Argonne
sector The man killed, he said, was
an Italian from New York.
Golden declared the officer to the
best of his knowledge, killed the Ital-
ian because he was the last of the
platoon and failed to report when the
ni::t0nn came up"
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