Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1922-01-06
MOSES AROUND
8 YANKS' NECKS
Ropes and Black Caps Found on
Soldier Bodies.
WATSON AND WITNESS CLASH
Former Lieutenant Tells Senate Com
mlttee of Shooting Soldier Who
Threatened His Life-other
Witnesses Are Heard.

Washington, Jan. Everett Coch-
ran of Savannah, a former lieuten-
ant, appeared before the senate COM
mittee investigating Senator Watson's
charges that YaDks 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 of shoot
ing a soldier in France while he was
a member of the command of Col. Will
liam Hayward, now of the New York
district attorneys Office.
Self Defense Claimed.
Senator Watson had offered the
committee a letter from Colonel Hay
ward in which he said he had caused
Cochran to be transferred from his
regiment after the shooting because
his usefulness had ended. Cochran
admitted shooting the mana negro.
Il was driving in a cart to the
scene of a nearby disturbance when
this negro stepped out and grabbed
hold of the horse" he said. after he
had refused several times to let go
and had threatened me with the car
bine slung over his shoulder, / shot
him dead. Colonel Hayward ordered
me tried so there could be no question
about my action The court acquitted
me in ten minutes. was transferred
at 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 tie killing of COM
rade on orders of a major The COM
rade, he said had gone to a spring for
water after a march, without water,
of "a hours.
Golden said his captSin's name was
Captain Lesame, Colonel Bethel
identified this officer as Capt Francis
Lasseigne, retired, 206 Monroe street,
sssss,diseH,,Ais.
Golden also described the killing of
another soldier who, he said, was
within a few feet of him when he was
shot down by a lieutenant for failure
to report to his company on time, in
the course of a march.
Previously Rufus p. Hubbard. for
merly of the graves registration serv-
Ice, had told of finding three bodies in
a graveyard at Bazoilles with ropes
around their necls and black caps
eyer theirheads.
graves registration service Of too
much hurry" 1.-THE result wars that
many mistakes were made" he said.
Men, not properly identified, were
sent back to parents
"You don't know whether the bodies
you spoke of were of men executed
according to law" asked Brandegee.
Il do not" replied Hubbard.
He said he thought two of the bodies
were of negroes and one of a white
man, but was no certain.
Hanging After Trial.
81 executed man at BazoHIes.
tied the knot and put the rope around
his neck" testified Don Jacobson Of
Guthrie, Okla, a former sergeant of
Company B, Five Hundred and Fourth
engineers.
Did he have trial?" asked gena-
tor Brandegee.
"Yes," replied Jacobson, who added
that the victim, negro was placed
in the coffin with rope around his
neck and the black cap over his head.
''When was this hanging" asked
Watson.
February 4, 1918"
did the man make any statement?"
HE said: I die an innocent man."
Harry w. Segal Of Dorchester,
Mass, told the committee he saw two
negroes taken from their barracks at
Gievres one morning and strung up on
the gaIlows. He gave the name of
Lieutenant Colonel Hahn as the man
who directed the hangings.