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Name: Herman Bausch County of Conviction: Yellowstone |
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Allegations: That
on April 13, 1918, (while being grilled by a local
committee about why he hadn't purchased Liberty Bonds) allegedly said "I
do not care anything about the Red, White and Blue; I won't do anything
voluntarily to aid this war; I don't care who wins this war; I would rather
see Germany win than England or France; I am not prepared to say whether or
not Germany is in the right; We should never have entered this war and this
war should be stopped immediately and peace declared; We should stop sending
ships with supplies and ammunition to our soldiers; As far as I am concerned,
I do not care if the Third Liberty Loan is a success or a failure." Case details: A man who read philosophy and
politics, Herman despised all war and refused to contribute to its financing.
Finally a local "third degree committee" came to his farm west of town. His
wife watched while holding their infant in her arms as the men strung a rope
over the limb of an apple tree. When Herman continued to refuse to buy
Liberty Bonds, the committee ran him into town and grilled him until early
morning in the hall of a local fraternal organization. A local lawyer sat on
the arm of his chair and threatened to punch him in the face unless he agreed
to buy bonds. What Herman said in defense of his actions was used to
prosecute him for sedition, The Billings Gazette editorialized
that "he should be prosecuted to the extreme limit of the law." He was
convicted in a 1 ½-day
jury trial and served 28 months. He was released Sep. 12, 1920. Personal Information: Born in Germany. Immigrated to U.S. in 1899. Took out citizenship
papers in Butte County, S.D., where he lived seven years before moving to
Billings, where he farmed. Married Helen Louise and had four children. Both sons died, one
of infant dysentery while he was in prison, the other killed when hit by an
automobile in 1934. Returned to farming in Billings after his release from
prison. Separated from wife, Helen Louise, who died in Carbondale, Ill. in 1998
at age 99. Herman died March 24, 1958, in Long Beach, Calif., of
complications from Parkinson's disease. His youngest daughter lives in
California. Other relatives in Oregon and Montana.
revised 7/11/08
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