Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-04-02
ANsELL AGAIN ON COURTs.MARTIAL.

In a speech before the National Popular Government
League at Washington, Colonel Samuel Ansell former
Acting Judge Advocate General, again condemned the
eourtsniartia system of the army. Colonel Anse who
has of controversy since his
criticisms of the army martial spoke in part
follows:
THE of this court, little competent to admin
lister the law, if any be important it would seem
be in the administration of human justice must when
fnazed by the approving will of military com
mander go ever thereafter uncorrected Cemency does
not correct injustice in finding of guilty: legal
control is the dRculty-lack of control at top
the bottom throughout proceedings. Instead of legal
control have in system the control of these in
herently judicial functions by the power of military COM
mand"
After giving striking examples including the of
received ninety-nine year sentence, the Colonel
continued;
THE accused young twenty-three years
of age convicted absence without leave desertion
escape He defended by lieutenant as counsel,
who apparently did than bear the label, The
evidence for the Government consisted of the brief test
mOny of the Captain and Sergeant The counsel stood
testimony whatever for the accused
1.-THE court sentenced the man to be dishonorably
discharged to forfeit all pay and allowances due and
to be confined hard labor ninety mine years. The
division occasion in his orders to COM
mend the court for having their duty awarding
substantial sentence for such serious ofense and
then rather navely thought suspended the execution
of the sentence Of dshonorabe discharge while the
cused was serving his ninety-nine years confinement
at turns out also that the is mentally de-
fective having the mind of child of more than 9
years and is unfit for assignment to any military duty
the time the trial he must have been afflicted
with progressive disease productive of hunchback.
In another a was convicted of absence
without leave OF 20 days time and days at an
other and for failing to report for duty. He was SEN
fenced to be dishonrably discharged be confined
at hard labor for 40 years. which the converting au-
thority reduced to ten.
I'm another case the accused was convicted of dis
cbeyng order to take rifle and out to drill
and escaping from confinement which he was SEN
be dshonorably discharged and to be confined
at hard labor for thirty wears which the converting
horiy reduced to 90 In another absence without
leave for three months the 20
years which reduced to TO-
I'm another case of absence without leave for six
weeks, the accused testified, not denied that
he went home to young wife and baby who were
sick and having difficulty in keeping soul and body
gether He sentenced to confinement hard labor
for Is years which reduced three. In another
Of absence without leave for three months the ac-
eused was sentenced confinement hard labor for
rs years, which reduced to 10 years. In another
case however for not very serious nsubordinae
duct the accused sentenced to hard labor for SO
years, which the reviewing authority declined to re-
duce.
"of course, had the court-martial power in these
cases been exercised in accordance with the principles
of law governing the exercise Judicial functions these
things could not have occurred"
yUUVU,