The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1922-01-27
SENATOR'S PROBING ALLEGED IL
LEGAL H4NGINGS IN FRANCE
GET NEW LINE OF EVIDENCE.

There was no evidence bearing on
the charge of Illegal hangings. Five OF
the 10 witnesses expected to testify
concerning this phase Of the inquiry
were summoned, but they did not an
pear. report by the Sergeant-at-Arms
OF the Senate showing that four of
them could not be located.
Harry X Walmer, of New York city,
told the committee today that while in
the air service in France he was q
transferred to another station, the
name of which he did not remember, /
and in passing through Paris was
picked I'D and put in prison as "a lost
and found person" Despite his trans
fer orders, which were submitted to
an American officer in charge of the
arresting squad Walmer said he was
forced to sign a card stating he was
a prisoner. He did. not remember the
officers name.
IL was put in a room with so many
others that we could not sleeD even
on the floor" the witness said, and
was kent there two days. There was
not even a chair in the room"
Were YOU ever told you were under
arrest, or what for?" Chairman Bran
degee asked.
NO. sir"
Were YOU given food?"
II don't recollect."
did they give you water at the pris-
on?"
No: but We got some on the q. t.
Walmer related many alleged griev-
ances. saying after he left Paris he
was stopped at a village and put to
sleep in horse stall. Eager to get
away. he said he ate two bars OF soap,
IL, 1nI
as an influenza patient and sent to
hospital Meanwhile, he declared, he
was robbed of 500 francs, and his
mothers picture, found with his mon
ev. was torn up and thrown in his
face.
while his testimony had no bear
ings on illegal executions. which the
committee had set out to investigate.
Walmer was permitted to relate his
grievances in detail.
Answering Senator Watson, Walmer
insisted he had done nothing to war
rant his arrest in Paris and that he
had been given no opportunity to
speak in his own defense.
why did they tear up your mothers
picture?" Senator Watson asked.
lust to aggravate me. They said
/ didn't need it,"
Walmer declared he had certificate
of meritOriOus conduct from General
Pershing. ,
Have you any grievance against
the armv?"
Absolutely no. Only | don't want
things like this to happen again"
Walmer wept as he told how thc
military police had robbed his bag
gage stealing the little things his
mother had knitted for him, and q
Bible given him by his grandmother.
Champ T.. Martin, of Seneca. S. C..
standing feet ~ inches in his socks
told of the shooting of Frank Ahcnok
prisoner, by a sentry in France. The
prisoner he said, was lying down and
was shot as he started to turn over.
An order to shoot the prisoner if he
moved was given, the witness said, by
Sergeant William l.. Born, who was
never tried.
81 saw and heard Born tell the sen
try if the prisoner moved to shoot
him." said Martin. ~ do not know il
he meant moving muscle or attempt
ing to escape. moment later | saw
the man dead"
When Bruce Bennear. of Elk Gar
den, w Va, took the stand, Senator
Overman, Democrat, North Carolina,
asked his business.
Il am bum" Bennear said, but the
Senator did not understand.
Il said l was a bum," the witness
repeated. That means l am out o!
employment-have no job
His situation was not from choice,
he explained.
A telegram to the committee signed
by Bennear stated he had seen three
men killed in France, but he disavow
ed this message today.
THAT was wrong" the witness de
clared. Il said l had heard of three
killings but the telegraph operator
made the change in cutting down the
telegram to save some money
We'll, you sent two kilograms to
Senator Watson, saying you saw men
killed." said Senator Shields, Demo-
crat. Tennessee.
II did not write it that way"
lon the strength of your kilograms,
said Senator Shields, I'VE bring you
here. and you say now you know
nothing. That's all"
All he knew about alleged killings
was "camp talk" Bennear declared
1T was shame the way men were
treated at the guard house at Camp
Merritt" said George G. Walters, cf
Dunkirk \. Y, who enlisted at Pitts
burgh AS he was proceeding to tell
of brutalities, Senator Shields direct
ed him to get down to killings"
Il saw Sergeants Stanley and Smith
beat men over the head with pick
axe handle" he said.
"They looked dead to men when they
were put in ambulances and hauleI
away" Walters added. The sergeants
were in Fort Leavenworth prison
when l got back from France, but
don't know what for"
why were the men beaten?' Chair
man Brandegee asked.
II don't know. 1t was an everyday
occurrence for men to be beaten up"
Were the cudgels used by the SER
geants heavy enough to cause DEATH
asked Senator Watson.
Il should say they were. | never
saw any sign of life in the men after