Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-01-11
MOSES AROUND
8 YANKS' NECKS
Ropes and Black Caps Found on
Soldier Bodies.
WATSON AND WITNESS CLASH
Former Lieutenant Tells Senate Com
nfstes Of Shooting Soldier Who
Threatened His Life-other
witnesses Are Heard.

WITNESSES Nfc Ftcaf1-
Washington. Jan. 5.-Everett Coch-
ran u savannah. a former lieuten-
ant. appeared before the senate COM
raIttee investigating senator Watson's
charges that Yanks were Illegally
killed in France ito answer charges
made against me by Senator Watson.
Senator Watson has made no
charges against you. sir" shot back
Watson. -and don't you come here at
lacking me-"
Cochran had been accused 81 shoot
Ing q soldier On France while he was
a member ~ the command Of Col. VIII
liam Hayward. now u the New York
district attorneys Office.
seIf-Defense Claimed.
Senator Watson had offered the
Committee a letter from Colonel Hay
ward IN which be said be had caused
Cochran 10 be transferred from his
regiment after the shooting because
his usefulness had ended. Cochran
admitted shooting the mana negro.
4 vas driving In a cart 60 the
scene u a nearby disturbance when
this negro stepped out and grabbed
hold of the horse" he said. after he
had refused several times 60 let go
and had threatened me with the car
bine slung over his shoulder. / shot
him dead. Colonel Hayward ordered
me tried 50 there could be no question
about my action. The court acquitted
me IN ten minutes. / was transferred
az my request"
Tells Of Shooting
Polk Golden Of Newman. Ga, who
said he could neither read nor write
and never could keep track Of
months told of the killing Of a CON-
rade on orders 81 n major. The CON-
rade. he said, had gone to spring for
water after a march, without water,
81 - hours.
Golden said his captains name was
Captain I.esnme." Colonel Bethel
identified this officer as Capt. Francis
Lesselgnc, retired. 2O6 Monroe street,
Madison. Wis.
Solden also described the killing Of
au1ther soldier who. he said, was
within a few feet Of him when he was
shot down by a lieutenant for failure
to report 10 his company on time, In
this course ~ a march,
Previously Rufus T.. Hubbard, for
merry u the graves registration serv-
ice. had told 0f finding three bodies In
q graveyard az Bazollies with ropes
around their necks and black caps
over their heads.
Hubbard accused the American
graves registration service Of too
much hurry" The result was that
many mistakes were made" he said.
-AIen. not properly identified, were
sent back TO parents
you don't know whether the bodies
you spoke % were 81 men executed
according TO lawT" asked Brandegee.
Il DO not replied Hubbard.
lie said he thought two Of the bodies
were OF negroes and one OF a white
man, but was not certain.
Hanging After Trial.
Il executed a man at BazOllles. i
tied the knot and put the rope around
hts neck" testified Don Jacobson Of
Guthrie. Okla. a former sergeant Of
Company b. Five Hundred and Fourth
engineers.
did he have a trialT' asked Sena-
tor BrandeEee.
yes replied Jacobson. who added
that the victim. a negro, was placed
an the coffin with a rope around his
neck and the black cap over his head.
-when was this hangingT- asked
Watson.
February 4. 1915
@Dld the man make any statement
-He said: I die an innocent man."
Harry W. Segl Of Dorchester,
zIass.. told the committee he saw two
negroes taken from their barracks NJ
Glevres one morning and strung up on
she gaIlows. He gave the name OF
lieutenant Colonel Hahn as the man
who directed the hangings.