Evening star., 1954-04-24
Former pow Throws
Bitter Testimony
Al CorpI. Dickinson
By John A. Giles

By John A. Giles
A court martial hearing
charges against Corpl. Edward
s. DickenSon was in recess to-
day after hearing a bitter former
fellow Korean war prisoner tes-
tify he was beaten after telling
the 23-year-old Virginia noun
taineer where he hid equipment
he planned to use in an escape
attempt.
Edward M. Gather Of rhila-
delphia. a construction lsborer
made little effort to hide his
hatred and contempt for Corpl,
Dickinson.
AS the pair looked balefully
at each other across the small
courtroom at Fort Lesley j. Nc
Nair yesterday. Mr.. Gather,
himself a former corporal, sud-
denly blurted out:
Don't you like it?'
He was obviously referring to
his testimony.
Mr.. Gather said he had hidden
in his barracks room what was
called an "air panel"-a five-by-
three-foot piece Of blue. cloth
with large white star sewn on
it and designed for the purpose
of attracting United States
planes when laid out on the
ground.
Guards Found Panel.
He said Corpl. Dickinson told
him he wanted to look at the
panel so he could make one like
it.
Shortly thereafter, the witness
said, the Chinese guards marched
directly to the hiding place and
took out the cloth. AS a result,
he was taken to headquarters
and beaten severely with clubs
and thrice placed before a mock
firing squad. The prisoner who
had intended to accompany him
in the escape also was beaten.
He declared that the Chinese
told him If he would cooperate
with them as had Corpl. Dicken-
son he would not be molested.
He refused to answer their ques-
tionS, he said.
On cross examination, Col. Guy
Emery, defense counsel, wanted
to know how many others knew
Of the hiding place. When the
witness said he could not re-
member, Col. Emery asked:
Your memory is not very good
is it?"
mo, sir" Mr.. Gather said and
then looking squarely at Corpl.
Dickinson. added, "but on cer-
tain things it is"
ION people you want to get?"
That's right. sir, If they de-
serve it,"
Two other witnesses have
shown animosity toward the ac-
cused but not to the extent OF
Mr. Gather.
After a short Lived escape
Corpl. Dickinson and three other
prisoners were recaptured.
Two Tell Of Attempt.
Fred Obroff of Wheelwright
KY, and Virgil Rutherford OF
Hammond, Ind, testified as to
this attempt.
Both of them said the Chinese
came straight to their position
without hesitation and took
them back to the camp near
Pyoktong. Korea.
"They came directly over the
hill to where we were,". Mr.
Rutherford said.
The four had been recaptured
just before Mr.. Gather was ar
rested for having the air panel.
He testified that Corpl. Dick
enson was not in the same cell
with the others and was not
guarded.
They called him a prisoner
but as far as I am concerned
he was just a trusty," Mr.. Cal
ther declared.
Corpl. Dickinson is charged
with currying favor with the
Reds to obtain better treatment
for himself at the expense o1
fellow POWs.
Another witness yesterday was
Perry Gennaro of Rockford
ILL.,. who testified that while
candy and cigarettes were not
available to the captives gener-
ally he noticed that Corpl. Dick
enson kept a supply.
Another charge against the
corporal is that he co-operatec
with the Communists by aiding
their propaganda efforts.
Corpl. william c. Hansen o1
Maspeth, Long Island. testified
Corpl. Dickinson told him he
"had better see the light" ano
join the Reds.
The court will reconvene al
o:15 pm. Monday.