New Britain herald., 1923-03-08
Cash Stolen when
He WENT over TOP.
Lieut.. Heating Robbed in Action,
Paid Loss, toBe Reimbursed
by GEORGE II. MANNING
Washington Bureau OF New Britain Heraid).

| washington Bureau OF New Britain Heraid).
Washington. March S.-vincent j..
Heating, prominent young attorney
of Bridgeport, Conn, and former off,
Ger in the world war, will be reim-
bursed by Uncle Sam for the $3S5.S2
which was stolen from his custody in
the trenches and made up to the gov
eminent out of his pocket.
A bill providing for this. introduced
in congress some time ago by Rep
resentative Schuyler Merritt. was one
of the horde of private bills rushed
through the senate In the small hours
of Sunday morning.
On the sixth day of June, 1918,
while serving as a first lieutenant
with the 26th infantry Heating was
charged with delivering a small bag
containing some $500 francs and
certain payroll data to the regi-
mental supply officer at Chepoix, IL
kilometers back of the line.
Before he had time to carry the
money back, Lieut.. Heating was sud-
denly ordered to lead his platoon to
the position of alert to meet an I'M
CAPCSLSd ,OhIihy utldSh. L1C Allu Vic
bag, with other funds and personal
property under the floor of his dug
out. On his return from the front
line late that night, he discovered that
some company property and a paek
age of money containing 2,100 francs
were missing. He Immediately re-
placed the funds borrowing the
money to do so. The captain of the
company was killed shortly after, be-,
fore he had time to prepare state
ment of the facts connected with the
loss.
The board of officers who inves-
tigated the matter reported that it
was of the opinion tnat Lieut.. Keat-
ing was guilty of an error in judge
ment of the method used to guard
money in his care, but recommended
that the amount be refunded.
Cash Stolen.
: ".The military situation at that time
III Noyon section was very
tense" said the report; the fighting
severe. and the German Compeigne |
offensive expected to commence at
any moment. 1t was a, most difficult
duty for a company commander. to |
have to pay his troops which were in
front-line positions at such a time.
Lieut.. Heating had very little chance
of properly assuming the responsible
ity placed upon hin, when given the
by Capt. Hamel.
Under the stress of such circum-
stances. Lieut.. Heating when called !
to lead his platoon to meet the ex- i
pected enemy attack, hesitated to
carry the money in mussette bag
On his body or in his pack as he
should have done, in the opinion of
he board. He acted as seemed to
him best. Heating did not knowing
Y place the money In any but what
he considered the safest circum-
stances and could not leave 1t guard
ID: therefore, in the light of knowl-
sdge OF battlefield conditions and the
peculiar etress of the moment and the
Unusual responsibility this officer
vas called upon to assume, the board
zane to the conclusion cited above"
The war claims committee decided
hat, in view of the fact that this
lain was thoroughly investigated by
/ board of officers Ind that its pas
age was recommended by Newton d.
Baker then secretary of war, there
vas no reason why Lieut.. Heating
hould not be reimbursed.