Evening star., 1954-04-27
Prosecution Witness
Asks 70 Withdraw
Dickinson Testimony
BY John A. Giles

0S0AAAOV NAPAs AS0W&10 A. A<ANAr
enson returned to the witness
stand at the corporal's court
martial today to ask that his
testimony be withdrawn. He said
he was confused" on what hap
pened in a Korean prisoner of
war camp.
Corpl. Thomas A. Carrick of
Blacksburg, Va. earlier had testi-
fled that he had overheard
Corpl. Dickinson tell Chinese
Communist guards of an escape
planned by Corpl. Carrick and
three other POWs.
But today he declared. II was
mistaken"
Col. Richard F. Scarborough,
the law officer. who acts as Judge
in a court-martial, said he had
never come up against similar
problem. He asked Corpl. Car
rick If he wanted it withdrawn
because you don't want to
testify against a fellow soldier
or because it isn't true?"
Both, sir" the witness re-
piled.
Lets Testimony Stand.
But Col. Scarborough finally
decided to allow the testimony
to stand and leave it's credibility
up to the eight-member court.
Asked specifically today if he
overheard Corpl. Dickinson
through the walls of the mud
hut headquarters of the Com
munists outside the Korean pris-
on camp three years ago, Corpl.
Carrick replied:
1T could be, sir. I don't re-
member. I'm mixed up on it.
I'm trying to remember all that
stuff, sir, ever since I've been
here. 1t was three years ago
that happened"
Finally, Col. c. Robert Bard,
the prosecutor, asked the wit
ness if he had been approached
by the defense counsel in the
eight days he has been here.
When he replied negativly. Col.
Bard then asked that if the trial
had interfered with his personal
plans.
Postponed Marriage.
eyes, Sir-my marriage. It
was to have taken place a week
ago Saturday and I had to tes-
tify here instead" Corpl. Carrick
replied, with tears in his eyes.
Earlier today an Army physi-
clan described as horrible" con-
ditions in Communist prison
camps.
Capt. William r. Shadish, who
is stationed at Walter Reed Hos
pital, said he knew Corpl. Dick
enson as a "sick house" orderly
and had no complaints about
him.
Asked about testimony of one
witness. Sergt. John Davis of On
tario, Canada, that Corpl. Dick
enson pushed a patient down
some stairs when he asked for
food, Capt. ShadiSh said:
II probably would have heard
about it, but it is possible that
it could have happened and I
would not"
Prosecution Rests.
The prosecution of the 23-
year-old Virginia mountaineer
rested yesterday as one of three
charges against him were dis
missed by Col. Richard F. Scar
borough, who is acting as judge
in a court-martial.
Dismissed for lack of evidence
was the charge that Corpl.
Dickerson told his Communist
guards that ex-Corpl. Martin
Christensen possessed a As cali
ber pistol with ammunition,
which, it was testified, resulted
in repeated beatings of Mr..
Christensen.
Remaining Charges.
The accused remains charged
with:
i. Making propaganda broad
casts and writing articles for the
Communists; circulating peace
petitions while a POW: inform
ing the enemy of fellow captives
escape plans; reporting to guards
about Communist state
ments by POWS and other
actions by them, such as criticiz-
ing and mimicking their cap
tors; aiding and assisting the
enemy to influence prisoners to
accept Communism, etc.
2. Specifically reporting escape
plans of ex-Pfc. Edward M.
Gather in order to obtain favor
able treatment for himself and
thus causing Mr.. Gather to be
severely kicked and beaten,
placed in solitary confinement
for seven months and before
a mock firing squad on three
occasions
Conviction on the charges
could result in life imprison-
ment.