The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-01-21
Watson's Investi-
cation D'rags On
Little Testimony sof import
ance Brought Out From
Witnesses

Washington, Jan. 17.-After pre-
<entafion of testimony by way OF
denial. war department records,
submitted today to the senate COM
mittee investigating charges that
American soldiers had been hanged
without trial in France, showed that
on the bodies of two men dug up
in the little cemetery at Bazoilles
the ropes and black caps in which
they were put to death on the
gallows had not been removed
prior TO burial.
Edwin +. Lamb of Hartford,
Conn. a rolonel overseas. testified
that in the case of one of the men
hanged the body was placed quick
~ in a coffin and SO far as he re-
called. the rope and cap were left
just where the hangman placed
them. But in both cases. other
witnesses declared. they were re-
moved before the bodies We're pre-
pared for shipment home TO rel
ativeS.
Senator Watson (DemocraD of
Georgia. whose charges concerning
Illegal executions led to the inves-
.tigation, sharply attacked the bur-
ial OF 2men hanged for "unmen-
tionablS crimes alongside Of SOL
diers who fell in battle. Asking a
witness if white men and negroes
were buried in the same part of
/ the cemetery. the senator was told
! that they wcrc-that all We're SOL
diers.
Taking up the charges Of former
service men that bodies shipped
here from France We're handled in
+ heltersk kelter fashion. without prop
er effort TO establish identity, Of
ficers and men attached TO the
graves registration service declared
there was no foundation for such
assertions. and insisted that not one
body was brought home until iden-
! tification had been positively ,es-
tablished
Turning from burial methods,
John Sebastian 1t sailor, of Jack
sonville. Fla, told how, when a
prisoner at Gievres, he saw the
bodies Of two negroes lying face
down on the ground, and was in
formed by the guard that the two
negroes had been lynched. He
was unable. however, to say wheth-
er the bodies were those Of the
men put to death by a soldier mob.
Through, the insistence Of Sen
ator Overman of North Carolina
the committee of which he is a
member is determined to find out
how Benjamin King of Whining
ton. y. G.. a soldier with the
Thirtieth division. met death in
France. All OF the evidence thus
far and war department records
show that he was killed in action.
His body was never recovered, and
men who We're near him at the
time declared he was blown to
pieces by shell. Sent out in
command OF half dozen men.
J King. a machine gun corporal, still
was with his command when two
privates We're killed, according to
witnesses.
Some time ago. however. the
story gained circulation around Will
ninston that King had been lynch
ed by officers under order of Hard
Boiled Smith," who later served a
prison term for cruelty. Robert
Harrison Of Wilmington, testify
ing early in the inquiry, brought
forward the first report at the hear
ing about the alleged lynching of
King. and since that time both
Senator'S Overman and Simmons
have been trying by every means
at the disposal of the war depart
ment TO get at the facts.
Called before the committee to-
day. Narney E. Wells Of Whining
ton declared with great positive
ness that while he had no direct
proof on the subject, it was GER
tain to the best of his knowledge
that King was killed in action. Civ
ing the young corporal the highest
record, Wells declared there We're
+ other North CarolinianS with the
platoon who could furnish evidence
and they will be summoned.
Senator Watson sharply critciz-
ed Wells for failure to tell Kings
! mother. earlier than a week ago,
! that reports OF the alleged lynch
ing We're without foundation. But
it was not until after publication
Of the Harrison testimony that the
talk bccames general. Satisfied in
his own mind that King was not
lynched. Senator Overman indi-
Gated that he was as determined TO
clear away all doubt. regardless of
how many witnesses it might be
necessary to call.
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