This day in 1918 in the Record

Friday, Aug. 23, 1918. Max Youz, the Lansingburgh man accused of desecrating an American flag and other disloyal acts, claims in federal court that he’s been framed by two young women who lived in sin with him.

A baker who lives on Oil Mill Hill, Youz was arrested on August 19 for throwing a flag that had been planted on his car without his consent to the ground. He claims that he’s been taunted for his German ethnicity by people who mockingly call him “the Kaiser” after German monarch Wilhelm II.

Today’s hearing before U. S. commissioner Clark Cipperly focuses on statements Youz allegedly made at his home, where three witnesses claim that he threw a military cap to the floor. According to guest Vincent Walsh, Youz said, “To hell with the American soldiers!”

20 year old Frances Souller testifies that she was Youz’s “housekeeper.” She and her friend Anna Baisley corroborate Walsh’s story. Baisley, who gives her age as fifteen, adds that “Youz had improper relations with her and sought to have her entertain other men.”

Youz’s attorney, John J. Mackrell, challenges the girls’ credibility. Inmates at the House of the Good Shepherd, they admit that they never accused Youz of disloyalty until after he had them arrested for stealing his furniture.

Testifying in his own defense, Youz explains that he has applied for American citizenship while registering (as required by wartime law) as an “alien enemy” and regularly contributes to Red Cross fund drives.

“He admitted having had improper relations with the young women who swore against him,” our reporter notes, “but said he understood the youngest [Baisley] was nineteen years of age instead of fifteen.”

Mackrell calls four character witnesses who testify that “they never heard [ Youz] give expression to disloyal remarks. During one Red Cross drive, Youz reportedly gave two dollars while his friends gave one, telling them, “That will help lick the d—n Germans!”

Cipperly denies Mackrell’s motion to dismiss the charges and reserves his decision until next week. Amateur Baseball

The Cohoes Insulars, who lost to the All-Troys last Sunday, virtually accuse the Troy team of cheating while challenging them to more games on “a fair field.”

The Insulars’ William S. O’Brien charges that the All-Troys’ third base coach blocked an Insular runner from scoring; that the Troy grounds crew moved the foul line for the home team’s convenience; and that a home umpire allowed an AllTroy runner to advance on a pop fly without going back to touch the previous base.

O’Brien denies that the Insulars are sore losers. “We are the best losers that ever played baseball,” he insists.

— Kevin Gilbert