Racine Journal-Times Wednesday, September 15, 1948
Seek Racine Man’s Testimony In Death of Suspected Nazi

Death of a suspected Nazi collaborator four years ago in the Belgian village of La Hamaide has entangled a Racine man in a complicated international problem.

The Racine man is Richard E. Wright, 26, of 1401 College Ave., a quality control engineer at the Belle City Malleable Iron Co.

Wright had been a bombardier on a B-24 Liberator which was shot down on a mission over Belgium June 14, 1944. He parachuted into an open field near the village of La Hamaide, then under German control.

The lieutenant’s ankle was broken in the jump but he was rescued by members of the Belgian underground. They had a doctor dress his ankle and then hid him in various homes from the Germans.

Patrols Suspicious.

One family at great personal risk to themselves, kept Wright for several weeks. “Several times German patrols came to the door of the house searching for allied airmen,” Wright said, “while I was hiding inside, but the family always managed to head them off. One time they hid men in the woods for several days when the German patrols became particularly inquisitive.”

Just as Allied troops liberated the area, a neighbor of Wright’s hosts, suspected of Nazi collaboration, was beaten to death. Belgian police believe that members of the family who harbored Wright, had killed the man but so far have been unable to prove their case.

Two years ago the Belgian consul sent a “rogatory commission” requesting that the answers to about 150 questions be obtained by deposition from Wright for the information of the Belgian police.

Refuses Request.

Wright preferred not to become entangled in the affair and consulted Atty. Jerome J. Foley, Jr. Foley contended that there was no treaty or law by which the Belgian government could require a deposition by an American citizen. From there the matter was kicked around from one government to another.

Finally the U. S. State Department told Wisconsin Atty. Gen. Grover Broadfoot that the Belgian embassy asked it for help in getting the deposition. The state department referred the case to Broadfoot.

Wright and his attorney still maintain that Wisconsin cannot deal directly with a foreign country, nor can the United States require one of its nationals to testify in a foreign criminal case, despite Wright’s immunity in this case.

Broadfoot pointed out that Wisconsin law is not clear as to depositions in foreign criminal cases and he has no duty or official interest in the matter.