The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-05-23
Death Penalty in the Army

Under the laws of the American
military organization, II offenses are
punishable by DEATH although these
are variously subdivided Spies must
suffer the death penalty, and theirs
is the only offense for which the death
sentence is mandatory. For murder
and rape, punishment must, according
to the ruling, be either death or life
imprisonment if the death sentence
Is imposed it is by hanging. Spies
are usually hanged also, because, to
quote the manual of regulations,
death by hanging is considered more
ignominious than death by shooting"
Hanging, the rule continues, lis the
usual method of execution designated
in the case of spies, of persons guilty
of murder in connection with mutiny,
or sometimes for desertion in the face
of the enemy; but in the case Of a
purely military offense, such as sleep
ing on post, such sentence, when i'm
posed, is usually to be shot to death
with musketry 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
command"
The other eight offenses or groups
of offenses listed are punishable by
death leave the penalty to the discre-
ton of the court martial. 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 a
variety of ways sleep or drunken
ness on sentry post; desertion or the
Indictment to or assistance in desert
ing; attack upon a superior officer or
characterization; mutiny or sedition
making known the countersign; fore
ing safeguard; relieving the enemy
with ammunition "or any other thing,
or harboring or giving intelligence to
the enemy.
In the offense Of neglect of sentry
duty" which is a betrayal Of respon-
sibility whose seriousness has made 1t
an almost unforgivable crime against
military law, the letter of the regula-
ton recognizes no difference between
being asleep and being intoxicated,
says the New York Times. The rul-
ing reads: ANY sentinel who ia
found drunk or sleeping upon his post,
or who leaves it before he is regularly
relieved, shall, If the offense be COM
mitted in time of war; suffer death or
such other punishment as a court
martial may decree" 1t is further
provided that "the fact that the ac-
cused had been previously overtaxed
by excessive guard duty is not de-
Tense, although evidence to that ef-
feet may be received in extenuatton
of the offense." The point is distinct
ly made that the sentry who neglscts
his duty has jeopardized no one knows
how many thousands Of his fell )ws,
and It may be a crucial position to
his country cause. Whether he was
intoxicated or merely asleep is, in the
letter of the law, a minor matter.
The rule regarding INSTRUMENTATION
is very strict. 1t 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 ir
the execution Of his Office, or wilfully
disobeys any lawful command of his
superior officers, shall suffer death Oh
such other punishment as a court
martial may direct"
1t is explained, however that thi'
does not apply to the striking Of az
officer ain legitimate self-defense,
and, Of course. an officer who strikes
man under him is liable to sever,
punishment.
Rules regarding punishment 70
mutiny or sedition are inclusive. TIL
death penalty may be imposed at tn
discretion Of the court martial upol
any one who attempts to create, be
gin, causes, excites or joins in" mu
tiny or sedition, but the liability t.
the extreme punishment does not sto
there. Any one, who, being presen
at mutiny or seditious outbreal
does not do his utmost to suppress
u