ST. ERME, _December 17th, 1914_.
Acting-Sergeant-Major Göpfert, after the importance of the oath had
been pointed out to him, made the following statement:
As to Person: My name is Oswald Emil Göpfert. I am 27 years old;
Protestant; battalion drummer, 3rd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 178.
As to Case: When my battalion was entering Leffe, numerous shots came
from almost all the houses. We supposed at first that the shots came
from soldiers; however, it could only have been civilians, since no
soldiers were found in the houses. I saw with my own eyes that a
civilian fired at and wounded Captain Franz. Only the men who were
implicated in the firing from the houses were shot, while the old men,
women, and children were taken to the convent. I was myself present
when an old man, who had been fetched out of a house, was separated
from the guilty civilians and taken to the convent.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: GÖPFERT.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed: STARKE, Officer of the Court.