Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-30
Nickerson Draws Fine
Of $500 For Leak
Army Court
Reprimonds
West Pointer

HUNTSVILLE Ala. June 40
ltR.-Army Col. John c. Nicker-
son. jr., today was fined $500.
forbidden to exercise command
for one year and reprimanded
for leaking secret defense data.
Under this sentence by q 10
man court-martial, the guided
missile expert is confined to adj
miniStrative duties and theo-
retically can't even tell a private
what to do.
The court-martial panel. which
could have dismissed him from
the service and jailed the Al
year-old West Pointer for 80
years. required only 43 minutes
to reach its verdict. p
The suspension from rank or
der, under the uniform code Of
military justice does not affect
his promotion chances but de-
Iprives him Of his rank privileges
such as priority in the selection
of quarters.
The $500 fine can be paid
either in a lump sum or by de-
Tduction from his pay Of 500 Q
month for Is months.
Subject to Review
i The sentence is subject to re.
view by Sd Army Headquarters
in Atlanta and all the way up
Through defense channels to the
Department of the Army.
\ Defense Attorney Ray Jenkins
of Knoxville, Tenn, who was
Special Senate Committee coun-
sci during the 1854 Army
Mccarthy hearings. said he re.
lgarded the verdict as an acquit.
tai.
THE verdict" he said, will
meet heartily with the approval
of the Nation.
THE Nation can relax and
breathe easier now that this
great champion of a cause has
been acquitted"
Blanches vislbly
The lean. intense Col. NICK
lerson blanched visibly at the
sentence since only last Wednes-
day he said he thought the
most punishment he believed he
Should receive was a reprimand.
He told reporters a few min
utes after the verdict, Il ex-
Ipect I will be transferred" He
refused further comment.
] Col. Nickerson. tired looking
after five days of trial. had con-
fesSed to Is charges that he
leaked secret defense data to
certain key people in an effort
to have an order reversed by
Secretary of Defense Charles E.
Wilson which vitality affected
the Arny's missile program.
After hearing the president Of
the. court. Mai. Gen. Crump Gar
win of Atlanta. read his sen.
tence the scholarly looking Col.
Nickerson snapped a sharp
salute. turned and smiled briefly
at his wife. Carol. as she moved
forward to meet him.
Medaris Blasts Colonel
Just before the court retired
lit heard gruff. mustachioed Mai.
Gen. John B. Medaris blast the
colonel, who admits he is abb
sent-minded. Gen. Medaris said
he didn't believe the 6-foot, l
inch Col. Nickerson had "any
future potential" for the Army.
Gen. Medaris, SIS. is command
general Of the Army ballistic
missile agency at nearby Red
stone Arsenal and Col. Nicker.
sons former chief.
Gen. Medaris told the court
that Col. Nickerson, intense
father of four. had violated his
own direct orders not to mix in
the Pentagon's feud over roles
and missions.
In view Of this breach of dis
cipline Gen. Medaris was asked:
Would you want Col. Nickerson
In service under you again?"
Gen. Medaris. who had been
lounging in the back of the wit
ness chair. sat up straight and
replied harshly II would not:',,>
Defense Attorney Robert K.
Bell of Huntsville said during
closing argument II implore you
to keep that uniform on Col.
Nickerson that his talents may
be saved for the United States"
1t. Col. william G. Barry.
Government prosecutor, required
only six minutes for his closing
Continued nm Pare A.IQ CoI