The Detroit times., 1917-06-05
TREASON IS
DEFINED To
GRAND JURY
Judge Tuttle Outlines
Law In Charge to
Federal Body
DENOUNCES
DRAFT FOES
Registration Slackers
Also Scored By
Jurist

Federal Judge Arthur J. futile,
charging the grand Jury that con
yened al 10 o'clock Tuesday morn
ing 10 consider the leases against
Socialists and members OF the !. W.
W. who are accused with having
attempted TO defeat the consumption
registration. defined the crime OF
treason. II Is the first time since
the days OF the civil war that the
statutes governing and Furnishing
treason have been defined to
grand jury in the United states.
Judge futile, in view ot the fact
that today is national registration
day. outlined the law governing at
tempts and conspiracy 20 defeat the
purposes OF the act. and discussed
at length the enormousness OF the
offense
He denounced the man who AZ
such a momentous time eyades reg
isiration and fails 10 perform his
duty 20 his country as "a criminal
OF the most contemplate character
and actually an enemy TO our coun-
try more dangerous and despicable
than our other enemies. who az
least confront us openly and where
we may expect them"
you are called az an unusual
period-an oyentful period in the
history OF our country, and one In
which we find That In every walk OF
life men are called upon 20 serve
I'm WAYS that ordinarily they would
not serve" he said III is time
when men. everywhere in this coun-
Try. are sacrificing their individual
desires, their individual interests.
their selfish interests, for the
greater interests OF their country"
one cannot be convicted OF tres
son because Of having the thought
in mind. Judge futile said. There
must be an overt act.
Treason against the state OF
Michigan is punishable by the
death sentence. he pointed out, al
tho e is commonly said that capt
tai punishment has been abolished
in this state.
Treason can only be committed
BY a person who owes allegiance
20 this state or country Alien enc.
mics cannot commit treason. All
allen subjects. however. citizens OF
a country with which we are not
NJ war, and residing here. owe us
certain duties and allegiance. Judge
futile said From the fact that
they owe us certain duties, they
may be guilty OF treason
Any one OF three motives may be
sufficient 20 constitute treason. the
Judge said II an individual were
giving information 70 Germany
that would be Of assistance TO her,
4, would be reasonable act,
whether bis motive was friendship
for Germany. q desire 10 help Ger
many, or hatred &C our own United
States and a desire 10 harm our
country. OF n the only motive was
the desire for pay or reward.
Persons having knowledge OF
others who aave committed treason
and who do not report their knowl-
edge 70 the authorities are subject
20 the provisions or a special stat
ute. IL was pointed out
In calling attention TO the great
Importance Of registration day and
the penalties attached 10 conspir-
acies 10 defeat the purposes OF the
registration. Judge futile said in
part
you have met upon a dav fraught
with tremendous import 20 our coun-
try, a day on the results 81 which
may depend not only the future we
and safety ~ our own nation but
prime pies % freedom and humanity
for the preservation of which We
have entered this war.
You Will note that every person
subject to this consumption act, and
this includes aliens. whethcr neu-
trails aliens or enemi~r, as well ne
citizens who shall wilfuliv fail 20
present himself for regi stration or
10 submit 10 such registration. shall
be guilty 81 fnisdemeanor and shall.
upon conviction In the district court
Of tho United states. he punished bY
imprisonment FOR not more than one
wear and shall thercupon he duly
registered.
The grand jury will be called to
Fether AZ frequent intervals during
the course OF the war, Judge futile
announced
81 do not expect necessarily TO
md many wrongs that have been
done" ne said. but will convene
tho Jury 30 that az all times during
This important period we will be In
a position 20 say 10 our country
either that over here In this corner
OF the United States. disloyalty does
not exist. or that. II ~ does exist.
we arc seeing that n Is stopped, and
that ~ IL punished