Evening star., 1922-01-04
Statement Of Witness at
Hearing on Alleged Army
CrueIties Overseas.


"The bodies were identified by the
cross on the outside of the coffin. ano
the black caps were not removed De-
fore the bodies were shipped to the
United States for burial" Hubbard
testified.
Ready to Enter Formal Denial.
Mai. Hierame Opie of Staunton, Va.
commander of the 3rd Battalion, llotn
Infantry, accused by Henry L. scott OF
Kenmore, Ohio, Of having shot ana
killed two soldiers in France, was on
hand with counsel to enter formal de-
NAL Of the charge Because some OF the
witnesses were anxious to testily ana
return home there was no early REFER
ence of the Opie case.
Describing his work in the field as an
assistant embalmer, Hubbard went into
great detail while Chairman Brandegee
was attempting to find out what ne
knew about charges of illegal hangingss:
You've written long letter. now tell
US in your own way what you Know
about the hanging charges" Chairman
Brandegee insisted.
"Whiie at cemetery in France
helping to get the bodies rea9y ioI LOT
shipment home" the witness said,
saw three bodies brought up with the
rope and black cap just as they were
when the men were hanged. l tnink
two were negroes and one "hlte
man.
REGARDS 1t as "Disgrace."
1T think it was a disgrace to the
Army that the bodies went to tne
parents without the black caps oeins
removed"
eral persons who were present at tne
cemetery with him. ~,
There was too much hurry In tn"
registration service. ne
"and many sad mistakes In identin-
cation were made. s,o
of the three soldiers?" Senator over
man. democrat. North Carolina asked
IT did not see one." Hubbard re-
"Were bodies that were not prop
erly identified shipped nome as 'oeh-
"They were" Hubbard replied.
Mothers of Lost Sons Present.
Many women in the crowded com
,,i,tsa room who lost sons overseas
iaaned forward and listened closely
10 Hubbards long recital OF care
lessness," some with tears In their
eyes. ~ .,-sa man
were executed in ACCORDANCE with 'he
law" the chairman asked.
Have YOU any evidence that men
were hanged without trial?'
"KnoW K1. svf anything of your own
knowledge of cruelty!
II developed that what he wanted 70
strike it out, then" said the chair
man.
Several Hundred Bodies Exhumed'
Examined by Col. Walter A; Betnei,
acting Judge advocate genera! OF the
Army, Hubbard said several hnnarea
bodies were taken up aa a .hree with
cemetery where he found tnree Win
Zones hooked around the neck.
aThe three bodies were taken up IN
a;rparent narts of the cemetery on tne
same day" he said. "The rope was
about three feet long; l took OIL the
ropes" ..u, ~"
col ai S 1on!t know" adding that he did
not report the case.
"And the first report of it was made
by YOU to Senator Watson!
"Thst;s all" exclaimed Col. Bethel.
while Hubbard was stu Trying 10 get
along with his story. ~,
"W-hat prompted you to write me!
asked Senator Watson taxing the
witness .,, -
"My duty as former service hi"n'
he replied. ,,,a
YOU have found it?'
II certainly would:
Hubhard insisted that the bodies OF
the three soldiers hanged were
identified by the cross on eacn grave
and he presumed they went to the
right parents w. r
Are you prepared to swear there
was no tag in any of the three cof-
fins?'' Senator Watson asked.
Hubbard said the protested to- Maj.
Gunner against allowing the bodles
in question to lie on the ground over
night in the rain. ,,,
"How did you get the moose on
Senator Watson inquired.
at slipped off over the head.
"If you took off the ropes why did
YOU not remove the black capE
Chairman Brandegee asked:
"I wasn't ordered to take of the
can. I was ordered to remove the
rope" M. ordsrsd 70 take
Off the cap?"
81 don't know"
ID, L. jacobson Testihes.
Don l.. Jacobson, formerly Of New
Haven. Conn, but now living at
Guthrie, Okla, was called next.
.sEver see a soldier hanged without
trial?" Chairman Brandegee asked.
81 did not" ;,
legal hangings at Gievres?"
Jacobson then told how he had put
the moose around the neck Of a negro
soldier hanged after court-martial
conviction. After the hanging the
body was cut down and short stretch
of rope left around the neck, he said.
cit was customary to bury man
hanged with the rope and black cap
in place" he declared.
jacobson testified that the soldier at
whose execution he assisted was
buried in the cemetery at Bazoilles,
whers Hubbard previously had testi-
Answering Senator Watson. the wit
ness teaid the man hanged was a ne
gro. Honvicted of rape, and who died
prociaiming his innocence.
sPolk Golden Questioned.
Polk Golden, a young farmer of
Newman, Ga, who was living in
Arizona when drafted and sent over
seasG was questioned concerning a
lettekhe recently wrote Senator Wat
SON TO the effect that a soldier was
shotNby orders Of major because he
went to a spring to get canteen of
water. The men. he said. were
ordered to remain under cover and
a soldier. disobeying, started toward
the spring and was shot. A battle
vas raging nearby and guards, he
said were trying to conceal the
position of the squad.
How far was the man out when
shot?"
Fifty yards. He was told to halt
and refused. Everybody knew we
were not to approach the sprinR."