Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-12
SOLDIERS DECLARE
OP|E SHOT PRIVATE
LETTER IS QUOTED
Colonel Bethel Testifies as
to Executions in France
and the Method Of AL
nouncing Them
- CENTS A COFxx
= 81 a YEAR.

daX in testifying for and against
Heroine L. Opie. of Staunton, va,
before the senate committee itlVes-
tigating charges that American sol
diers had been hanged without trial
in France.
But at the all-day session there
was no evidence relating Specifically
to hangings. 1t all swung around
charges that Major Opie, as conn
mander Of the Third battalion, One
Hundred and Sixteenth infantry had
sot some of his own men. Men who
had served with the regiment, sup
plementing testimony submitted last
week, declared they saw Major Opie
shoot runners in October, 1918, willis
his command was in the Argonne
offensive. Others, who were with
the officer on the dates mentioned,
asserted that he had shot no one
and that he only fired to stop some
of his men, apparently in disordered
retreat, in an effort to reform his
line and get troops back into fight
ing state.
Chairman Brandegee, seeking to
cut through the conflicting evidence,
endeavored to ascertain the exact
number alleged to have been shot,
but in the end there was some doubt
in the minds Of members as to
whether the witnesses had seen and
We're attempting to describe the same
alleged slaughter.
Counsel for Major Opt, in a brief (
statement at the conclusion of the
Opie testimony, expressed The hope
that there might be a speedy finding,
and asked that further evidence re
lating to him might be presented q.
one time. Senator Watson, Demo
crat, Georgia, whose speech in tn
senate led to the investigation, o.
posed any attempt to single out Il
Opie case, declaring he was not
prosecutor, that the had not broug
the majors name in, and that
major himself was the first to 6
the charges publicity after a with
had told of the shooting of man
an officer designated as Major
ley"
AS. all the testimony, for
against Major Opi@ was cleared
the slate, special date will be
for reopening the charges by
committee in the event fu
statements should be forthcom
The most direct testimony al
Major Opie was given by Chan
Fox, of Richmond, Va, who
he saw the officer shoot a
in the back. Later counsel foU Major
Opie requested the witness to state
whether he had written a certain
letter, which has been put into the
record, Fox was not certain as to
whether he had written it. The
letter set forth that Fox was an or.
phan, while he testified that his
mother was living. 1t was presented
in what was regarded as an attempt
to show that the committee could
not believe him.
Fox was required to copy the let
ter in it's entirety, and while there
was no explanation as to what the
comparison of handwriting revealed
the committee announced that wit
ness asked to be summoned by Opie
to testify as to the veracity of Fox
would not be called. Prior to this
announcement orders to call him had
been issued. Fox meanwhile in
structed to remain in Washington.
Finally he was excused.
1.-THE man shot was wearing the
American uniform" said Fox. II
was $50 feet away. AS the boy was
shot he threw his hands in the air
and toppled over. do not know il
the man died, Sergeant Kane also
saw the shooting"
Fox declared the soldier was with
in six feet of the major wh@ 1.-THE
shooting took place, that he fnH# p
preached the officer and was rfi6Ring
off
'Do you know opie?" Chairman
Brandegee asked.
II was positive it was Major
Opie. There was much talk in the
company, Company B, One Hundred
and Sixteenth infantry. The men
wondered why the boy had been
shot, but they were afraid to ask
about it.
'You made no complaint"
mo, sir; 1 was afraid"
Quotes From Letter
Asked why he did not report the
case to Lieutenant Moring, Of Rich.
mond, Fox said:
'"That guy would. shoot me; he
wouldn't take any foolishness."
Fox gave Chairman Brandegee q
letter from Moring, written from
Casper, Wyo., saying he was "sorry
to hear about Major Opie."
RoX did not want. all the letter
read, saying it contained "soms
rough stuff"
II am used to rough stuff in this
case" the chairman said.
The letter quoted Moring as say
ing he had heard the soldier was
running away and that Opie had a
right to shoot and advised Fox not
to say anything about the case "un-
less you actually saw the shooting"
adding that rumors did not stand up
in court.
Banging the table Fox shouted
that he saw Opie shoot.
II saw it with my own eyes,
From Mornings letter." he believ-
ed that Opie was justified" said the
chairman.
Bethel is Heard
"Weli, don't" Fox declared.
There were several references to
Frank II. c'Hardboiled') Smith, who,
Colonel Bethel said. had been SEN
fenced to three ye RS Imprisonment
for cruelty to prisoners. He had
recommended that the term be S@-
duced to eighteen months, Colonel
Bethel added.
Senator Watson asked that Repre-.
sentative Johnson, Republican, Of
South Dakota, who had stated in the
house it probably was true that sol
diers at the front had been shot by
their officers because they had be-
come demented or showed cowardice,
be summoned.
Colonel Bethel said that while he
had no personal knowledge Of such
shooting, 'it may have happened"
II can imagine circumstances
where an officer would be justified
in shooting a man to prevent stan1-
pede," he added. Such shooting
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