Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-14
DESCRIBES
HANGING Of SOLDIER
IN FRENCH TOWN
Other Officers and Witnesses
Deny Charges of Illegal
Executions Before Senate
War Probe Committee


WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-Only
two soldiers were hanged at Issur-
tile while he was in command there
from March to July, 1919, Colonel
Samuel V. Ham, testified today be-
fore a senate committee Investigate
ing charge that soldiers had been
by court-martial.
Explaining how the orders to exc
cute the men had been carried out,
Colonel Hahn said they caused him
such personal regret that he kept
them from the knowledge of his staff
for day. The post chaplain was
directed to confer with the condemn
ed men while the gallows was being
erected, and to remain with them
constantly.
The military police were directed
to throw a Gordon around the scat
fold" he said. and the mayor and
town authorities were asked to at
tend. Colonel Ham added, however.
that nearly all the French women
and children in the neighborhood
were present.
I1OW
were present." Colonel Ham was
asked.
mot over 400 or $780," he replied.
IT had endeavored to place the gal
lows so that it would not be in pub
lie view more than could be helped"
How many French there?"
"About 400"
A. telegram from John. Sebastian,
Jacksonville, Fla, to Senator Wat
son, saying he knew two negroes
were lynched at Gievres, was filed
with the committee. Sebastian ex-
pressed desire to testify concern
ing crueltfes, and he was directed
to appear.
Senator Overman, Democrat,
North Carolina, said he had heard
from a comrade of Benjamin King,
Of Wilmington, N. c., that he was
present when king was blown to
pieces in a trench" He will be sum-
moned. According to previous tes-
timony Robert Harrison, of Whining
ton, King was hanged, but war de-
partment records listed him as kill
ed in action.
Identifies Picture
Colonel Ham identified a photo
graph of a gallows, sent by a sol
der, and purporting to have been
taken at Is-Sur-Tille as closely re-
sembling the structure built there"
Senator Watson, Democrat, Geor-
gia, questioned the officer regard
ing the sentence of the first man
hanged, negro, at Is-Sur-Tille for
murder and assault
THE only thing / was concerned
in was the mandate from the high
command" said Colonel Ham. 81
was not present at the trial"
The second soldier, a white man,
was put to death a month later, he
said. There were 10000 mem at
camp at the time, and by Colonel
Hams direction the cause of each
hanging was publicly stated from
the scaffold, as warning that there
must be law and order.
The man hanged was convicted
OF rape of a nine-year-old girl" said
Colonel Ham. There were no other
hangings, no lynchings, at Is-Sur-
Tile while 1 was there"
Asked about the testimony of for
mer soldiers that men in the Amer
lean army were tried by French
court-martial, Colonel Ham, speak
ing with great emphasis, declared:
THAT is not possible
Colonel Ham also denied previous
testimony that there were more
than two hangings at his post.
/ James r. Hewlett, of Hampstead,
N. T., who succeeded Colonel Ham
IN command at Is-Sur-Tille, said
there We're no executions, legal or
otherwise, while he was at the post.
John W., Hall, of Boston, who was
adjutant at Is-Sur-Tille, declared he
was positive there were only two ex-
ecutlons. None took place there in
August, 1918, he said, as alleged by
soldier witnesses.
Similar testimony was given by
Howell M. Baker, of Richmond, Va,
formerly an officer at the camp.
Another officer stationed at s.
Subtitle, Frank A. McKenry, of
Pittsburg, Pa, testified that two exc
cutions took place while he was
there, and that his company attend
ed, by orders from headquarters.
AS commander of labor battalion
at Is-SurTille, Frank X. A. Eble, of
Washington, said he witness I'd the
two executions described by Colonel
Ham and other witnesses. He had
heard of no others.
This cleaned up the list of wit
nesses already summoned and the
hearing was adjourned until next
Tuesday.