New Britain herald., 1920-12-22
Writes His Views To Judge Kikham In Ref erence To Man Given Chance To Enlist If Acceptable
Court Made This RecOm- mendation Only On Plea of Atty. F. B. Hungerford, Counsel For Accused.

Lieut.. Col. Alfred Aloe. commanding the United States army recruiting ,ffices in this district, has sent an open etter to Judge John H. Kirkham of | ne local police court explaining that he army will not accept for enlist ment men whose records arc not good. In a recent decision in court, Judge kirkham ruled that if Charles Ross, guilty Of taking an automobile with out the owners permission. is per mitted to increase his reported one- year enlistment in the army to three years. judgment would be suspended. Otherwise he would sentence the ac- cused next Monday. Col. Aloe an- nounces. in his open letter to the judge and to recruiting officers, that Ross will not be accepted for enlist ment. nor will Neurath or Miller, his accomplices in taking the autos.
 Judge Kirlkham's Side.
 Judge John H. Kirkham. in speak ing of the case of Charles Ross today, stated that he did not. pass judgment upon Ross at all. that he merely sus- pended sentence upon the accused, acting under the assumption that he would join the army. Judge Kirk ham paid high tribute to the stand ards of the U. s. army and said that he would not make it optional with n criminal whether he joined the army or went to jail, nor did he in this case. It was represented by the counsel for the accused that the army authorities were willing to ac- cept Ross enlistment and the under standing of the judge was to the effect that this was so. .-. .......
 Army authorities in Springfield were interviewed by. telephone and they stated that they would take Ross back. it is stated here. The judge merely acted upon the assumption. which seemed to him entirely req sonable. that the matter was closed when the sentence was suspended and the accused was taken to headquar- ters
 Notice to Recruiting Men.
 Col. Aloe's notice to his recruiting officer is self-explanatory. It follows:
 December 2l.
 "1 Tn an article in the New Brit ain Herald of December 20 and the New Britain Record of Dec. 20 there appeared an item in which a certain judge at New Britain has given a man by the name of Ross the option of enlisting in the army for three years or a jail sentence. This plan Ross was arrested with two other men by the names of Otto Neurath, age 19. and Otto Olson. age IS. In this connection, you are we'll aware of Paragraph S49, Army Regulations. which prohibits the acceptance for enlistment Of men of this kind. We take pride in our army and the men we have in it. It is a place where a man of good character can serve his and at the same time receive which will prove of the value to him upon his return to civil life. It must be clear to you from the action in this case that the army can not be and is not the dump Ing ground or refuge for criminals.
 "If either of these three t3) men apply at your station for enlistment they will be rejected immediately.
 ALFRED ALOE.
 Lieut.. Colonel, Inf,
 F..A "Recruiting Officer"
 Letter S6Sbudgc Ki-kham. Lieut.. Col. Aioe's letter to Judge Rirkham is printed herewith: TT Hampden St. Springfield. Mass.
 Dec. 21, 1s2. Judge John H. Kirkham.
 New Britain, Conn.
 My Dear Sir:
 "In an article appearing in the New Britain Herald and Record of the goth inst. I notice that you have given
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