Case Name: UNITED STATES ex rel. WARM v. BELL
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1918-02-27
Citations: 248 F. 1002
Docket Number: 
Parties: UNITED STATES ex rel. WARM v. BELL.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 248
Pages: 1002–1003

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES ex rel. WARM v. BELL.
(District Court, E. D. New York.
February 27, 1918.)
Atore and Navy <©=20 — Selective Draft Act — Enemy Aliens.
Where an alien Austrian, who bad first papers, was certified for military service under Selective Draft Act May 18, 1917, c. 15, 40 Stat. 76, prior to declaration of war with Austria, be is not, as be was subject to tbe draft at tbe time certified, entitled to bis release on babeas corpus, on tbe ground that the subsequent declaration of war made him an' alien enemy.
Habeas Corpus. Application by the United States, on the relation of Abraham Warm, for writ of habeas corpus against J. Franklin Bell, Commander of the National Army at Camp Upton, N. Y.
Writ dismissed, and relator remanded.
Charles Recht, of New York City, for relator.
Melville J. France, U. S. Attv., of Brooklyn, N. Y., opposed.

Opinion:
CHATFIELD, District Judge.
This application is for the discharge of an alien born in Austria, who was drafted before the declaration of war with that country, and who took out valid first papers less than seven years ago. He would therefore be in a position to become a citizen of the United States, if his application therefor had been filed before the declaration of war with Austria.
It is evident from the discussion had in the cases previously de cided that no wrong is done this man by holding him subject to the effect of the draft, which was legal when he was certified for service. As he holds a declaration of intention, which could be used immediately if peace were declared, the only limitation upon his remaining in the army is that which an act of Congress or presidential regulations might provide. He is not being held subject to the army discipline contrary to law.
The writ must be dismissed, and relator remanded.