Evening star., 1943-05-22
May AssaiIs Shafer
For Investigation at
Se|fridge Field
Committee Chairman
Says Probe Was Made
Without. Authority

Chairman May of the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee asserted
this afternoon that the investiga-
tion of Representative Shafer, Re-
publican, of Michigan into the shoot
ing of colored private at Selfridee
Field, Mich, was authorized by the
committee.
Mr.. Shafer, who informed report
ers Of his findings earlier in the
day, Immediately countered with
the assertion he had full authority"
from the committee and clearance
from the War Department.
If I have found things that are
not digestible. that is just too bad"
Mr.. Shafer declared He added that
the committee had even assigned an
investigator, John H. Weiner, to
accompany him in the trip.
What is more l intend to submit
an expense account to the commit
tee for my trip he said.
Blames Inspector General.
Earlier Mr. Shafer said he found
that the alleged shooting of the
private bv the commanding officer,
Col William T. Colman, could have
been avoided if the Armys Inspector
Generals Office had "functioned
properly"
The committee" said Chairman
May did not authorize an investi-
cation of the shooting of William
McCrae who was wounded in an
alteration with Col. Colman. That
Is matter within the Jurisdiction
and control Of the Army and with
out the jurisdiction of the House
Military Affairs Committee acting
under the authority of Resolution
No 30.
The resolution relates only to
investigation of the war effort and
war contract and not to a matter
within the jurisdiction OF a military
court.
MI. Shafer has made no report
TO the committee, and was not ex-
a. the information until the committee
has had an opportunity to consider
the facts found by him"
Mr.. Shafer reported he found evi-
dence that Col Colman, who since
has been placed under observa ton
in an Army hospital. had expert
enced personal difficulties includ-
ing the death of his mother, Just
short tiple before the shooting of
Pvt. McRae. field chauffeur.
Charged With Excessive Drinking,
He was mentally disturbed MI
Shafer said adding that he had
learned that Col Colman had been
drinking at the time of the shoot
ing. Col. Colman had an excellent
record. and had come up the hard
way Mr.. Shafer added.
1t was further established" Nj.
Shafer said, that for several weeks
prior to the shooting Col. Colman
had been drinking to excess
He recommended to the committee
that it insist on an early report on
the progress of the War Depart
ment's inquiry and that the alleged
irregularities be proved or disproved
promptly.
If proved. the committee should
make certain that there will be no
Whitewash and those found guilty
are punished. he said
Says LaXness Was Well Known.
Other actions indicated that Col
Colman had been on the verge of a
nervous breakdown, with the result
that he was lax in the conduct of
his duties at Selfridge Field" Mr..
Shafer added. Il found that this
condition was we'll known through
out the post and to citizens of near
by cities"
He stressed, however, that the
shooting of Pvt. McRae was in no
way linked with alleged irregulari-
ties at the field Pvt. McRae, he
found, was assigned to chauffeur's
pool and had not been asked before
to. drive for Col. Colman.
AS far as I could ascertain, he
had never before had any direct
contact with the colonel Mr.
Shafer said.
Il am confident that il the In
spector Generals Office had prop
erly functioned. Col. Colman would
have been removed and hospitalized
weeks ago, and the unprovoked and
unexplained shooting of Pvt. McRae
would have been avoided"