Case ID: us-ct-cl_20/html/0373-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Weldon, J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

HENRY ROMEYN v. THE UNITED STATES.
    [No. 14520.
    Decided June 1, 1885.]
    
      On the Proofs.
    
    The claimant puts in evidence a military order directing- him, while on leave of absence, to join his company without delay. It does not certify that this travel is necessary for the public service. He produces no evidence aliunde the order to show the necessity.
    An officer on leave of absence ordered to rejoin his company, which has changed its post since his leave began, cannot recover mileage.
    
      
      The Reporters’ statement of tbe case:
    The following are tbe facts in this case as found by tbe court:
    I. Tbe claimant, an officer of tbe United States Army, was stationed at Fort Brown, Texas, in November, 1883 ; on Novem-4,1883, be received a leave of absence for thirty days, and proceeded to Tecumseh, Mich., where bis leave was extended for thirty days.
    II. On the day of tbe date thereof tbe following order was made and sent to claimant:
    “[Special Orders No. 825.]
    “ HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
    “ADJUTANT-GENERAL’S Oeeioe,
    “ Washington, December 13, 1883.
    “12. By direction of tbe Secretary of War, First Lieut. Henry Bomeyn, Fifth Infantry, will report by letter to Brig. Gen. Alfred H. Terry, president of tbe Army retiring board convened at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, by Special Orders No. 228, October 4,1883, from this office, and will bold himself in readiness to appear before tbe board for examination when summoned. The travel by Lieutenant Bomeyn from tbe place of recent of this order to Fort Snelling and return is necessary for tbe public service.”
    III. On tbe day of tbe date thereof tbe following order was made and sent to claimant:
    “[Special Orders No. 20.]
    “Headquarters of the Army,
    “Adjutant-General’s Office,
    “ Washington, January 24, 1884.
    “ 9. First Lieut. Henry Bomeyn, Fifth Infantry, now on leave of absence, having been examined by an Army retiring board and found not incapacitated for active service, is relieved from further duty in tbe Department of Texas, and will join bis company without delay.”
    IY. Tbe company of claimant was sent from Fort Brown, Texas, to Fort Keogh, Montana, at which the claimant joined bis command under said order. Tbe distance from Tecumseh to Fort Keogh, Montana, was less than tbe distance from Te-cumseb to Fort Brown.
    
      
      Mr. B. B. Warden for the claimant.
    
      Mr. F. R. Rowe (with whom was the Assistant Attorney-General) for the defendants.
   Weldon, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court:

It is alleged in the petition of the claimant that he was stationed at Fort Brown, in the State of Texas, in November, 1883. On November 4, 1883, a leave of absence was granted to him for thirty days, upon which he went to the State of Michigan, and while there his leave was extended for thirty days. During the extended leave of absence, petitioner was ordered before a retiring board convened at Fort Snelling, in the State of Minnesota.

The petition also alleges that the petitioner, on the 16th of January, 1884, was placed on leave of absence, and before the expiration thereof he was relieved of duty in the Department of Texas and ordered to Fort Keogh. The claim is made for mileage from Tecumseh, in the State of Michigan, to Fort Keogh, in the Territory of Montana. No transportation having been furnished the petitioner, the amount claimed is $112.80.

The findings show that the claimant in going to Fort Keogh was returning from his home, after an expiration of his leave of absence, to his command, the location of which had been, during his absence, changed from the State of Texas to the Territory of Montana.

There is no certificate that the travel was necessary for the public service, so as to make it a special service. The fact that he was ordered before a retiring board, and failed to be discharged on account of being incapacitated for active service, is not important in this case, as for that special service he makes no claim.

The distance the petitioner traveled in going to his command, as it was changed during his absence, was less than if he had gone to the place at which it was stationed at the time his leave was first granted.

The Act March 3,1883 (22 Stat. L., p. 456), requires that ‘‘the necessity for such travel in the military service shall be certified by the officer issuing the order, and stated in said order.”

The order issued to the claimant to return to his command, dated on the 24th of January, 1884, does not show the necessity for such travel,” and this defect is sufficient in law to prevent the claimant from recovering on the case made in his petition.

It is the judgment of the court that the petition be dismissed.