The Detroit times., 1912-07-30
SAILOR BOY WH0SPBRAED
VACCINATION IS CALLED
HDREYFUS OF X-SCIENCE''
Joseph Kapsa Is Courtmartialed
Because He Refused Medi-
cal Treatment
GIVEN YEARS SENTENCE
Is Serving Term in United states
Military Prison AT Port
Royal, S. G.
GIVEN YEARS SENTENCE

CHICAGO. III. July 2s--ln a
nretty cottage in the suburbs OF Iui-
caqo lies an old, old, old lady-a
little age.weakened and teariul oiu
woman-whose dearest possession,
brave and handsome boy. stands uls-
eracad before his comrades ana couh-
trvmen because he refused TO give up
tha teachings of his religion.
The bed-ridden, sorrowing ola "o-
q tho grandmother of Joseph
Julius Kapsa, the young sunH1 :
mate OF the battleshlp Deia - 49, :,
who is serving year al hslp iaoo,
I'm the United States naNdi prlsoh ~
Port ROYAL, S. c., for refusing W De
yaccinated for typhoid. And the year
full old woman prays night ana iloi
ing that the shackles ana the
nomy shall fall from her Joseph,
little Joseph, who was the oaVS VI
her dead daughter. >,
1.-THE Dreyfus OF Christian Science
IA Joseph Kapsa, in the language Oh
the members OF that faith VINO are
rushing to the front with all the IN
nuence they can bring TO right the
Injustice they say Uncle Sam naNal
officers have heaped upon this young
man.
Roth arms Of the United States
military establishment now yaccinate
for typhoid. The order to yaccinate
all sailors went out Of the navy de-
partment in Washington, on Dec. /,
1e11. Kapsa, who Is 2S, was aboard
the Delaware al Guantanamo, CuDa'
when the ships doctor went on the
iob He refused TO be vaccinated. Re-
spectfully he told the doctor and the
battleship's executive officer that he
was a Scientist, that his belief made
II morally impossible for him to al
low vaccination.
There was some doubt among the OF
ficers as TO whether this was insubor-
dination, but two or three months later
when the Delaware was in New York,
n courtmartial was ordered. Kapsa
was found guilty and sentenced to
two years at hard labor. This was
later cut down to one year at tho
end of which time the young man is
to be dishonorably discharged from
his country's service.
The only charge against Kapsa was
that he refused to be vaccinated.
w nat WOulu yOu w IL wv hoA
typhoid?" asked Lieut.. Racicot Of
Kapsa at the courtmartial.
81 would heal 1t by Christian Sci
ence."
do you think that II you trans
gressed some of those beliefs concern
Ing your bodily health that you
would be everlastinglv damned?'
Eyes, SIR" insisted the mate.
Where did you get the idea as
to how to cure typhoid fever?" asked
Lieut.. Racicot.
From the Bible" said Kapsa,
specifying st. John.
"Can you tell this court what gave
you the belief that IL you cut OF a
finger instead OF taking medical
treatment you must have some other
form of treatment, and that IL you
didn't have II your soul would suit
fer?" insisted the lieutenant. II
want to know how closely your
morals and beliefs go together"
81 do not wish to argue my re-
ligion with you,r protested Kapsa.
do you eat three times a day."
Eyes, sir"
Suppose you had a stomach acte
in the morning. and at the same
time you felt hungry. Suppose that
your idea of taking care OF your
health told you not to take break
fast, but you were hungry and you
took breakfast; would the fact that
you took breakfast that morning af-
feet your morals; would IL damn
your soul or simply affect your
body?"
We'll, | don't know, as I have
never been in such a predicament,"
declared Kapsa
How Is your soul affected IL you
have a silver In your thumb"
81 can't answer that question" ad-
mitted the prisoner.
Kapsa has never been sick.
He has been In the navy 10 years
and his record is without a blemish.