Norwich bulletin., 1922-01-05
Dramatic Scene
At Watson Hearing
When Soldier Testified That
He Had Seen Major Opie
Fire at a Man in His Com
mand.

Washington, Jan. 4.-Accuser and ac-
cused, in dramatic fashion, faced each 9TH
er today before a senate COMMITTEES in~es-
tigating charges that American soldiers
had been hanged without trial in France.
Near the close of "a seven hour session,
Major Heroine L. Opie, of Staurton, Vir-
ginia, ommander of the Third Battalion,
116th Infantry, overseas, went on the
stand TO enter emphatic denial of charges
by former service men that he had shot
down some of his own soldiers IN cold
blood on the battlefield He was asked,
however, to step aside until other Witness
es than In the room could testify again
him, meanwhile being given the right
through counsel to cross-exanline them.
Responding to his name whan the Opie
charges were taken up. Grayson H.
Withrow, of Baltimore, still in his early
twenties stepped to the front and testi
fed that he saw the officer seize a gun
from a private and fire at a man in his
| command. Shells were falling overhead,
| he id. and there was tremendous excite
ment. but Withrow swore that from his
retreat In a shell hole he peeped out and
/ saw the man fall as the majors gun
barked But he could not say whether
| Opie had killed him. declaring the latter
standing out in the open, was within
arms reach of half a dozen officers when
the shot was fired.
As Witrrow left the stand. William St.
John, young man from Lynchburg. Va,
s-ffering from nervous troubles resulting
/ from service overseas. accused the Nir-
| ginfan of shooting down runner" at the
front. because he failed to heed after
thrice being ordered TO halt
| Four other men saw the killing he de-
clared. but he refused of his own sccord
to give their names. on the ground that
1 he had not been able to confer with them
and that it would not be just t. him
his charges. One OF them. he said. had
developed cold feet" and was unwilling
to come.
Reminded by Chairman Brandegee that
the names must he submitted, st. John
complied. mentioning first the cousin OF
one of Major Opie's counsel, sittinG
across the table 1t was while St John
was being cross-exanined by John A
Cutchins Of Richmond. Vt. Msjcr Opie's
counsel. that he lost control of his shatter-
ed nerves and dramatically shouted that
he was dealing with a bunch Of fanatics
who ARE trying to prove I am nuttv.'
Mr. Cutchins promptly disclairreI sue.
;, an intention.
Seeing that the young man was worr
ut by excitement. Senator Watson. dem
ocrat, George. whose charges of illega
Executions are under investigation declin
ed to question him. Tomorrow Majo
C'3ie will testify In his own behalf
: A farm hoy from Georgia who frank!
hut pathetically announced he could no
read or write cleared up his reeen
statement concerning the shooting of
soldier because he had sneaked ava,
from his conl.naad to cuenclf his thirst a
kttle s2ring It-developed that tn
= mpaud was trying to conceal lis posi-
tion from the enemy and that all hand
had been warned that the first man at
D tempting to walk ont in the open would h
= shot The soldier walked fifty yards he
yond the dead line refused to halt whe
{ ordered, and they shot him in his track!