Crittenden record-press., 1918-04-11
eleven 0FFENSES PUNISHABLE BY
DEATH IN UNITED STATES ARMY
Sentence Sleepy Sentres With the Army France Calls Attention
to 0enses Which May Be Punished by Hanging or Shoot.
ing-0eah Sentence Is Mandatory Only in Case
Of Spy-Many Touching Stories

the manual of regulations, death by
hanging Is considered more ignomin.
ious than death by shooting" Hang
Ing, the rule continues, "is the usual
method Of execution designated In the
case Of spies, of persons guilty of muir
der In connection with mutiny, or
sometimes for desertion In the face OF
the enemy; but in the case of a purely
military offense, such us sleeping on
post, such sentence, when imposed, Is
usually to be shot to death with mus.
kerry For the sake of example, and
to deter others from committing like
offenses, the death sentence may,
when deemed advisable, be executed
in the presence Of the troops Of the
command"
At Discretion Of Court. Martial.
The other eight offenses. or groups
OF offenses, listed as punishable by
death leave the penalty to the dlscre-
ton OF the court.martlal. Death or
such other punishment as the court.
martial may direct" is the usual word.
Ing of the army regulation. The Of.
lenses are cowardice. In any one OF q
variety OF ways; sleep or drunkenness
on sentry post; desertion or the inclte-
ment to or assistance In desertion; at.
tack upon superior officer or lnsub.
ordination; mutiny or sedition: max.
Ing known the counterslgn; forcing
safeguard; relieving the enemy with
ammunition "or any other thing" or
harborng or giving intelligence to the
enemy.
In the offense Of neglect OF sentry
duty" which is n betrayal OF respon.
sibillty whose seriousness has made
1t an almost unforgivnble crime against
military law, the letter OF the regu.
lation recognizes no difference between
being asleep and being intoxicated.
The ruling reads: "Any sentinel who
Is found drunk or sleeping upon his
post, or who leaves II before he Is reg
ularly relieved. shall. II the ofrense be
committed In time Of war, suffer death
or such other punishment as q court.
martial may decree" II is further
provided that "the fact that the nc.
cused had been previously overtaxed
by excessive guard duty is not n de-
tense. although evidence to that effect
may be received as cxtenuation Of the
offense." The point Is distinctly made
that the sentry who neglects his duty
has Jeopardized no one knows how
many thousands Of his fellows. and
II may be crucial position to his
country's cause. Whether he was In
toxicated or merely asleep Is. In the
letter OF the law. minor matter.
lnsubordlnatlon.
The rule regarding insubordlnation
Is very strict. II reads:
ANY person subject to military law
who, on any pretense whatever, strikes
his superior officer or draws or lifts up
any weapon against him. being In .hs
execution Of his Office. or wiifully dis
obeys any lawful command Of his su.
perlor officers, shall suffer death or
such other punishment rs q court.mar.
tinl may direct
II Is explained. however. that this
does not apply TO the striking Of an
of,ccr I'm legitimate self.defcnse,"
and, Of course, an Officer who strikes q
man under him is liable 10 severe pun.
ishment.
Rules regarding punishment for mo-
Tiny or scdition are inclusive. The
death penalty may be imposed at the