Evening star., 1949-01-26
Court Martial Awaits
Investigator S Report
In Prison Camp Case
By WiIIiom n. Shippen
Stor Stoff Correspondent

FORT MEADE, Md, Jan. 26.-
Court-Martial Of an Army Medical
Corps captain on charges of neglect
in connection with alleged freezing
conditions among prisoners in an
Army solitary cell block in Ger
many probably will be completed
tomorrow.
Il seemed doubtful, however, that
the eight-man board will announce
It's decision in the case of Capt.
Joel G. Holmes of Philadelphia until
after the trials of three of the cap
tain's superior officers at the Army
Rehabilitation Center at Wurtzburg
during the wipter of 1867.
The first trial was in adjourn
ment today, pending arrival of one
of the final witnesses, Maj. John
w. Burchell, who investigated the
case of a former prisoner at Wurtz-
burg, Pvt. Joseph Suggs, colored, to
determine If the injury which led
to the amputation of his feet was
incurred lin line of duty"
Charges Cell Unheated.
Pvt. Suggs, who is now trying to
learn to walk again with artificial
limbs at Walter Reed Hospital, testi-
fed from a wheel chair here last
week that his feet were frostbitten
while he was held in an unheated,
solitary cell at Wurtzburg in De-
iember, 1916, and January, l947.
Capt. Holmes, who is %, was the
prison surgeon at the time. The
others to be tried on general charges
of neglecting the welfare of troops
are Col. Harolh II. Mcclure, 55, OF
San Antonio, Tex, commander of
the post; 1t. Col. George E. Pinard,
"a, of Washington Springs, S. Oak,
prison officer, and Capt. Samuel H.
Wolford of Clear springs, Md, COM
mander of the prisoners stockade.
Col. Mcclure, holder of the Pur-
pie Heart, retired about a year ago,
but was recalled to active duty to
stand trial.
Two enlisted men, Corp. Francis
r. Jordan, who was flown here from
Germany, and Pvt. Alva B. Willow,
a former guard at the prison, testi-
fled yesterday they had never heard
Pvt. Suggs complain of illness, ask
to see a doctor or request additional
blankets and clothing.
Recalls Swollen Feet.
Defense Witness Willow, how
ever, admitted that, when Pvt.
Suggs was led from solitary con-
finement to receive medical atten-
ton in January, 1947, his feet were
swollen so badly he was unable to
get his shoes on until somebody
split the leather in several places
behind the toes.
Witnesses have agreed that the
hot-water furnace in the basement
broke down several times during the
cold, midwinter period. Corpl. Jor-
dan and Pvt. Willow said three
stoves were installed in December
during one OF the breakdoWns, one
in the washroom, another in the
cell-block corridor, and the third in
the guardroom, separated from Cne
corridor by steel grill.
Corpl. Jordan, who at the time
was a sergeant rated as a "dis-
ciplinarian," declared orders had
been issued after the furnace broke
down to supply each prisoner with
five blankets and o mattress, along
with wool socks. fatigue suit, shoes
and heavy underwear.
Both witnesses expressed the con-
viction that Pvt. Suggs received his
full allotment of equipment, al
though neither could recall seeing
a mattress when they talked to the
soldier as he lay on the floor OF
his cell. wrapped in blankets.
Claim No Complaint.
It previously had been charged
Pvt. Suggs had neither a mattress
nor adequate blankets and was