Omaha daily bee., 1922-01-05
Witness Accuses
Major Of Staying
Army Runner
Former Soldier Charges Com.
mandcr of Infantry Bat.
talon With Shooting
Messenger in A. Z. F.

Washington, Jan. 4.-Accuser and
accused faced each other today be-
fore senate committee investigat-
ing charges that American soldiers
had been hanged without trial III
France.
Near the close OF the session, Mai.
II. L. Oppie Of Staunton, Va, COM
mander OF the Third battalion, 10th
infantry overseas, went on the stand
to enter emphatic denial. OF charg-
es by former service men that he
had shot down some Of his soldiers
in cold blood on the battlefield. He
was asked, however, to step aside
until other witnesses testify against
him, meanwhile being given the
right through counsel to cross-ex-
anime them.
Grayson Fl. Withrow Of Balti
more, still in his early 20's, testified
that he saw the officer seize gun
from a private and fire at man in
his command. Shells were falling,
he said, and there was tremendous
excitement, but Withrow swore that
from his retreat in a shell hole he
saw the man fall as the majors
gun barked. But he could not say
whether Opie had killed him. de-
claring that the latter, standing out
in the open, was within arms reach
of half a dozen officers when the
shot was fired.
Accused Of Shooting Runner"
As Withrow left the stand. Will
liam F. St. John Of Lynchburg,
Va, suffering from nervous trou-
bles resulting from service overseas,
accused the Virginian Of shooting
down a runner" at the front. be-
cause he failed to stop after thrice
being ordered to halt. Four other
men saw the killing, he declared,
but he refused to give. their names
on.the ground that he had not been
able to confer with them and that
it would not be just if they should
appear and mot back up' his charg-
es. One, he said, had developed
cold feet" and was unwilling to-
come.
Reminded by Chairman Brandegee
that the names must be submitted
st. John complied, mentioning first
the cousin Of one of Major Opie,,s
counsel. 1t was while St. John was
being cross-examined by John A.
Cutchins of Richmond, Va, Major
Opie's counsel, that he lost control
OF his shattered nerves and shouted
he was dealing with a bunch of
fanatics who "are trying to prove !
am nutty.'" Mr.. Cutchins disclaimed
such an intention,
Seeing that the young man was
worn out by excitement, Senator
Watson, democrat, Georgia, whose
charges OF illegal executions arc un-
der investigation, declined to ques-
ton him. Tomorrow Major Opie
will testify.
Found Nooses on Bodies.
Starting ont with the testimony of
Rufus ?. Hubbard of New York,
who as an embalnling assistant with
the American graves registration
service. declared he found nooses
and black caps on the bodies Of three
American soldiers dug up in the little
French cemetery at Bazoilles, the
committee permitted the inquiry to
run its course. Another witness.
who assisted in a legal execution. de- |
clared that the bodies we're buried. !
looses and black caps intact, III the
same cemetery where Hud Bard said
three so marked had been found.
A farm boy from Georgia, who
frankly but pathetically announced he !
,ould not read nor write, cleared up
his statement concerning the shoot
ng of soldier because he had
sneaked away from his command to
lucnch his thirst at a spring. 1t de-
gelopcd that the command was try
ng to conceal its position from the
sncmy and that all hands had been
warned that the first man attempting
70 walk out in the open would be
shot. The soldier walked 50 yards
,eyond the dead line. refused TO halt
when ordered, and they shot him in
his tracks.
There was much testimony relat-
ne to executions at ls-Sur- lille,
zone of the witnesses being able to
,av whether the victims had been
ried. beyond the claim of some TO
he contrary as the trap was sprung.
Mar department records, containing
he list of II legal hangings., listed
wo at Is-Sur- lille.