The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-02-21
NEWS OF THE WEEK
FROM CAMP SEWER
EMPLAcEMENT FOR A FULL BAT.
Terry OF FOUR GUNS Is NOW
UNDER WAY.
CAPT. C0THRAN MADE MAJOR

Some inside information as Reoarda
Legal Procedure In the Army-Quite
Different from That of Civil Courts.
Camp Private Charles H.
Lupton, 1O5th Supply Train, will short
ly be commissioned first lieutenant
In the Medical Reserve Corps. Mr..
Lupton is graduate physician. There
have been several similar cases in
which men were commissioned from
the ranks
The very first Of it's operation, tho
cafeteria Of the Hostess House proved
popular place, and the several visit.
ing ladies who dropped in for a bite
with their soldier relatives or friends
declared themselves delighted to have
such place within the camp itself as
a rendezvous.
The mess hall Of Company c, 1O5th
Engineers, was destroyed by fire, and
only good work by the entire regiment
saved the shack Of Company B, which
caught fire several times, from being
consumed also. Scarcely before tho
ashes had grown cold, replacing the
building was commenced, and by night
fall the side timbers were we'll up.
The cause Of the fire has not yet been
ascertained.
Y. M. c. A. Unit No. S5. at the 59th
educational secretary, B. G. Davis,
having suddenly become very i'll with
pneumonia and what may be compli-
cation of meningitis. Mr.. Davis is in
tho base hospital, and is critically Ill,
although hopes are entertained for his
recovery.
Capt. Perrin G. Cothran, originally
Of Greenwood, S. c., and until recent
ly adiutant of the 100th Engineers,
has been made a major, National
Guard, to rank from January 80, and
has been placed in command Of the
hrst battalion Of the regiment. vice
Major John H. Finney, relieved. Capt
Clarence E. Boesch. formerly com.
mental adjutant in Capt Cothrans 8
| place.
Legal procedure in the army as it
| Is In some respects quite different
from that OF civil courts, should be Of
| general interest at present. To begin
with, there Is no separate Judge and
jury, the court performing both these
! functions. Minor offenses, the maxi
mum penalty for which Is not more
than three months Imprisonment, are
tried by a summary court, consisting
OF one officer. There is such court
for each regiment or smaller unit.
More serious offenses, but for which
the maximum penalty is six months
Imprisonment or less, are tried by a
special court. consisting Of from three
to five officers, while all other offenses
are tried by general courts martial,
composed Of from five to thirteen Of
fcers, specially constituted for that
particular offense, and which have the
power to impose even capital punish
ment.
These courts conduct the cases, rule
upon the evidence, decide upon the
guilt Of the accused, and fix the SEN
tence. The conduct Of the case Is
about like that in civil courts. the ac-
cused having the right to refuse to
answer questions tending to incriml-
nate himself, and being allowed the
assistance Of council, an officer being
designated to act as such If he has not
procured civilian attorney He has
also the right to object to any OF the
officers who constitute the court, and
II he has good reason they will be re.
! placed with others satisfactory to him.
In one respect he Is better off than in
a civil trial, as there is no omit to the
number Of such objections, but the
reasons given must be substantiated.
Sentences OF courts martial are re-
viewed by the commanding general Of
the division, who has the power to re-
duce sentences. but not to increase
them. In case he thinks the sentence
OF the court unduly light he may send
1t back for reconsideration. with his
J reasons for refusing to confirm it, but
II the court stands firm in its origi-
nal position. he must then confirm 1t.
OFTEN persons indicted for desertion
are convicted merely Of absence with
out leave. To prove desertion, the in.
tent not to return must be proved,
and as this frequently does not exist,
and Is always difficult to prove, the
man is convicted OF the lighter offense.
Wherever possible, the soldier is re.
tanned in the service, and only when
the evidence shows moral turpitude
uniting him for the life Of a soldier
is the cuprit dishonorably discharged
in addition to receiving other punish.
ment.
An emplacement for full battery
Of four guns is Nndnr cnnat rnnt Tor, H..