Norwich bulletin., 1922-01-06
Major Opie Tells
Of Firing Rifle
One Shot in the Air, Another
in the Ground Prevent
Men Running.

Washington, Jan. 5.-Sweeping denial
of charges that he had shot two of his
men White his command. part of the
twenty-ninth division. was in the thick
OF the Areonne fighting, was made be-
lore senate Investigating committee to-
DAY by Major Heroine L. Opie, of Staun-
ton, Virginia, and nearly a dozen men
serving with him overseas
At an all day session only one voice
was lifted against Major Opie-the
voice of a shell-shocked victim of war,
now patient in Virginia hospital for
the insane. The witness, Lemuel C,
Smith, declared that while in a dugout
with three comrades and four German
prisoners, Major Opie entered, snot and
killed soldier, then ordered the body
removed. without once uttering a word.
In rapid succession the comrades
mentioned by Smith Wet on the stand
and swore they saw no such killing, that
they were not in the dugout, and that
they knew of no evidence whatever to
support the charges. And then after a
half dozen of Major 0pie's men had tes-
titled that they never heard of his shoot
| Ing a soldier in France or anywhere else,
| the major himself spoke in his own de-
Tense. declaring there was no word of
truth in the accusations and that ne
| never shot man in his life"
| Breaking down while witnesses were
| telling the committee thai FOR his ser
| vices in the Argonne offensive. ending
| In hospital, wounded, he was awarded
| the Distinguished Service Cross, the Lee
gion of Honor and the Croix De Guerre
| with two palms, Major Ope quickly re-
| covered his composure, and calmly, but
/ with great emphasis, asserted that he
never fired a revolver all the time he was
In the army.
Major Opie explained in detail how lie
| had attempted to get his men in a line
| after they had been demoTalized an6
were running wildly some saying they
had been ordered to retreat while others
we're shouting that the enemy was ap
oroaohing. A tense situation, developing
suddenly, found him alone in the effor
to reform tie lines. At the moment h.
was without side arms, was wearing {
rain coat, the insignia on which wa!
covered by mud. and it was with Difficult
ty that he could make the men halt
Il took a rifle and fired twice" h
said, knowing perfectly we'll what
was doing. One shot was fired in the al
and one in the ground Nobody was hit
After I fired the lines stopped, and I go
them into shape, putting men I recog
niZed in command. 1 sent runners +
, bring all the men up. There was no
u dead soldier on the line and there ha
; been no firing"
Did you shoot a runner with a revol
vxer as charged?' Chairman Brandege
I asked,
y nsver fri pistol The whole tim
| was IN t1L<ly,' Major opie declare.
with emphasis
Chairman Brandegee wanted to kno,
If Major Opie had any theory al to ho,
the reports about him had started
None. sir" he said
1T may be that one circumstance le
to 1t. I dislike to mention names. h,
: It might be the only thing to do inju!
y tee to others. 1t happened that T.ier
I ! tenant Floyd W. Cunningham acciden,
ally killed himself with a rifle and I Wa
the first to reach him. I bent dow
! opened his blouse, and while there alor
!. in that position some stragglers ma
: have been around. I sometimes thin
:, this scene may have started runors
= which 1 was the victim"
Senator Willis. republican. Ohio. que
:. toned Major opie, regar5fng the fest
n n mony of Henry L. Scott. Of Kenrory
Ohio. that he saw the major shoot a. ruI
ner.
exclaimed.
Senator Willis said he merely desire
to get the majors denial in the recor
Senator Watson. democrat. Georgi
!. whose charges in the senate that Anne
y lean soldiers had been hanged wftho
trial in France. took no part in the e
II animation of Major Opie or his wtnes
/. es. But at the close Of the session. Sc
;. ator Watson, announcing that he w;
-, not prosecuting any case presented
a ESQ OF witnesses to be summoned to ci'
- testimony relating to the Ooie charge
E, The committee indicated that tn,
= would be called when the hearing Is r
:. sumed next Tuesday. Some of Mai
:. Cpie's witnesses. expected here to1a
~ failed 10 arrive in time and they will
=, | heard next week.
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