Legal Document

354 U.S. 524 77 Supreme Court Reporter 1409 1 L.Ed. 1544 Charles E. WILSON, Secretary of Defense, et al., Petitioners,v.William S. GIRARD, United States Army Specialist 3/C. William Petitioner, versus al. Nos. 1103, 1108. Argued July 8, 1957. Decided 11, Mr. Judge Lee Rankin, Sol. Gen., Washington, D.C., for petitioners in Number 1103 and the respondents Messrs. Joseph Robinson Earl Carroll, New York City, respondent petitioner PER CURIAM. Japan became involved a controversy whether Girard should be tried by Japanese court causing death woman. The basis dispute between two Governments fully appears affidavit Robert Dechert, General Counsel Department an exhibit to government motion below, joint statement State John Foster Dulles Defense Wilson, printed as appendices this opinion. 2 Girard, Third Class Army, was engaged on January 30, 1957, with members his cavalry regiment small unit exercise at Camp Weir range area, Japan. civilians were present retrieving expended cartridge cases. another ordered guard machine gun some items clothing that had been left nearby. grenade launcher rifle. He placed 30-caliber case projected it firing blank. penetrated back woman gathering cases caused her death. 3 ultimately notified would delivered authorities trial. Thereafter, indicted him wounding. sought writ habeas corpus District Columbia. denied, but granted declaratory relief injunction against delivery authorities. 152 F.Supp. 21. appealed Appeals Columbia, and, without awaiting action appeal, invoked jurisdiction under 28 Code KF62 § 1254(1), Annotated KF65 U5 1254(1). filed cross-petition certiorari review denial corpus. We both petitions. 928, 1390. Rule 20, 4 A Security Treaty States, signed September 1951, ratified Senate March 1952, proclaimed President effective April 28, 1952.1 Article III authorized making Administrative Agreements concerning '(t)he conditions which shall govern disposition armed forces America about * *.' Expressly acting provision, Nations, February Agreement covering, among other matters, over offenses committed forces, providing any might waived States.2 This same date (April 1952) considered before consent given Treaty. 5 XVII, paragraph 1, provided upon coming into effect 'Agreement Parties North Atlantic regarding Status their Forces,'3 June 19, conclude agreement criminal similar corresponding provisions NATO Agreement. August 23, 1953, 29, October Protocol Agreement4 pursuant covenant XVII. 6 Paragraph amended Protocol, dealt violation laws Nations provided: 7 '3. In where right is concurrent following rules apply: 8 '(a) military have primary or civilian component relation 9 '(i) solely property security person member dependent; 10 '(ii) arising out act omission done performance official duty. 11 '(b) offense jurisdiction. 12 '(c) If having decides not jurisdiction, notify soon practicable. give sympathetic consideration request from waiver its considers such particular importance.' 13 XXVI established Joint Committee representatives consult all matters requiring mutual consultation implementation Agreement; if '* unable resolve matter, refer matter respective governments further through appropriate channels.' 14 light Senate's ratification after Agreement, already signed, subsequent knowledge commitment we are satisfied approval embodying governing try offenses. 15 claimed ground act, certified commanding officer, 'done duty' therefore insisted proof Girard's scope duty him. 16 Committee, prolonged deliberations, agree. issue referred higher authority, authorities, accordance 3(c) decided exercise, waive, whatever case. determination carried out. confirmed conclusion. 17 sovereign nation has exclusive punish within borders, unless expressly impliedly consents surrender Schooner Exchange M'Faddon, Cranch 116, 136, 287. Japan's cession American personnel conduct constituting countries conditioned section 3, (c) 18 our decision narrowed question whether, record us, Constitution legislation prohibited carrying provision qualified find no constitutional statutory barrier applied here. absence encroachments, wisdom arrangement exclusively Executive Legislative Branches. 19 judgment reversed, 1108 affirmed. 20 Justice DOUGLAS took part Appendix A.* 21 Columbia 22 3/C, Petitioner vs. Haw. Hawai‘i Reports KFH45 A2 C. 47-57 Wilson 23 Respondents Affidavit With Respect Facts Commonwealth Pennsylvania SS. City County Philadelphia 24 25 26 27 H.C. 47—57 being first duly sworn, deposes says: 29 & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions am Defense. Personnel my office collect, collate, maintain files arrangements regard entered foreign countries. reviewed familiar various communications relating incident involving occurred 30 1957 state, result review, information belief, facts surrounding follows: Situation Firing Range, 30. On afternoon Company F, 8th Cavalry Regiment, Japan, attack one squad hill defended squad. 3/C 'attacking' force. Commanding Officer Colonel Herbert Jordan, states during morning he appalled large numbers trespassers area interfering exercise. estimates number excess 150. group six eight pounced position ceased gunner could clear weapon, physically pushed away order retrieve 31 maneuver consists approximately square miles. It Government time use forces. Force uses 40% time. When either permitted farm otherwise area. local village follow practice scavenging brass 32 Upon failure efforts move danger Col. Jordan directed ball ammunition withdrawn troops, blank substituted also police contacted assistance clearing so normal field training resumed. Up until early afternoon, when shooting occurred, forthcoming. Shooting Incident. 33 After attacked squads changed positions attacking force defending force, vice versa, soldiers, Victor N. Nickel, 'defending' platoon leader, Second Lieutenant Billy M. Mahon, who personally directing activities personal nearby ridge. 34 made course investigation, stated get away. quoted did receive orders fire them There evidence, than st tement 35 Lieut. Mahon advised several jackets side Hill 655 instructed Nickel keep stealing equipment. area; near gun. said 'just collecting cartridges, there need chasing away'. 36 weapon exercises participated fired 80 rounds ammunition. soldiers arrived ridge, occasions, At second shot, woman, Mrs. Naka Sakai, fell. An autopsy disclosed upward direction depth 1/2—4 inches, exact distance victim uncertain. witnesses put eighteen meters (approximately yards). occasion, stepped off what thought found feet; estimated 20—30 yards. puts 25—30 intentionally point rifle believe injure anyone hit them. 37 According empty shell authorized. 38 Onosaki, witness, enticing toward throwing indicating pick up, suddenly shouted thereupon shot Onosaki. As running away, Onosaki holding waist, ten meters. testimony corroborated located 100—150 39 Both statements. denied knowing anything incident. admitted only round heads Japanese. gradually testimony. admits ground. knew manner it, fairly accurate short ranges, denies striking power; waist woman's head intend wound her, scare 40 statement, admitting collected pile cartridges five occasions thrown Japanese, nearest whom little yards say: 'To tell you truth don't know told not, me throw those cartridges. purpose they came up cartridges.' stating down concludes: 'He (Girard) stood gun, went feet right. people started run probably thinking chased. Mama-San ran. Then hip held angle 45 degrees body. myself friend company. saw (the incident), letting down, lied. Drew received advice investigator there. truth. One reason watching.' 41 connection, while going talk Nickel. do recall talked positive nothing spoken remember telling carttridges. positively I'd lie want say is, far can remember, talking it.' marksman (average shot) sharpshooter (better average M—1 day question, twice expert .45 caliber pistol; occasions; said, 'I idea how travel, travelled quite ways prior like travel straight forward.' 42 later requested make respect occasion asked gather luring closer position; foxhole together request, draw closer, he, Nicke, threw foxhole; 'throw closer'; motioned hands pickers come 'Daijobu', meant closer; man, then her; standing shoulder; take body (Nichel) 'they' 'We brass.' Certificate Official Duty. 43 officer certificate That read F Regiment Subject: Duty Thru: Provost Marshal Regional Whittington APO 201 To: Chief Procurator Maebashi Honshu, 44 1. Pursuant Agreed Views Criminal Jurisdiction Subcommittee amending XVII certify S, RA 452 809, Class, Federal KF105 F3 201, 1350 hours, Range Area, incident: 2nd Battalion, routine Area. conducting exercises. leader unguarded equipment immediate instructions, moved designated While performing duties guard, case, warning, struck killed Naka, Kami-Shinden, Somamura, Gumma Prefecture, 2. will notification immediately contrary exists. 46 3. Should trial above individual general court-martial, mentioned Views. Carl Alligood 1st Lt. Infantry 47 Notice 'Existence Contrary Proof'. 48 issued existed. stated: 49 Public Procurator's Office Maebashi, 50 Alligood, 51 Lt Infantry, Command, Co., Bn 52 Re: Notification existence proof. Dear Sir: 53 Reference letter dated 'On Duty' status SP3 William, 54 inform thereto exists, basing examinations. 55 /s/ Nagami Sakai 56 Statement Jurisdiction_ Sub-committee Committee. 57 View 43, brought Subcommittee. representative agreed procedure. discussed submitted summary contained following: 58 13.15 hrs picked slope south hill, beckoning Hidehara Onozeki (male) (female) place south-west cases, etc., cried 'Papa-San, Daijobu', 'Mama-San, Daijobu' ('Old O.K., old lady, O.K.'), etc. thus let thrown. pointing hole Takusan-Ne' plenty more!'), hinting thereby remained induced go hole. But, moment, Hideharu picking suspicious suspects behaviour suspect Onoseki 'Ge-Rou! Hey!' towards him, placing attached hole, north stock arm, (8) launcher, just Onozeki, sustain penetrating proved fatal spot because loss blood resulting cut main artery.' 59 conclusion 60 'Sp—3 occurrence evident, however, shown finding facts, arose materially deviating his, wilfully inviting im, Therefore, arisen 61 duty.' Discussions 62 exchange occurred: 63 U.S.: Do agree duty? 64 Japan: admit duty, connection guarding 65 Your fact does account intent. scaring insure safety 66 evidence shows effect. Thus, consider actually protect vicinity; way mission necessity shoot Its never danger. Further, according authorized, superior observing obliged interfere prevent manner. 67 However, full weight must did, fact, may mistaken believing necessary manner, cannot escape that, own purpose. 68 based supposition supported prepared answer it. 69 determining important intent statement? 70 arise evidence. interrogated well intent, version considered, worthy contradicts statement. significant 71 Investigation 72 Investigations alleged conducted Interpretation 'Official Duty'. 73 interpretation term 'official circular Armed Forces, Far East published 1956: 74 'The used Minutes, include acts periods apply required function individuals performing. substantial departure perform usually indicate outside ' fficial duty." 75 Action 76 lengthy discussions extending mid-May finally 3c thereafter taken. State. 78 4, announced careful available concluded Committee's courts reached accord procedures preserve integrity pledges U.S., 79 Present Girard. administratively restricted limits Whittington. 81 voluntarily enlisted Regular 1954 three year expire 27, 82 Dechert 83 Subscribed sworn 84 My commission expires: 6, 1961. 85 (Seal) Laura Litchard Notary baron 86 State, ofDefense, 87 3rd far-reaching implications, good faith treaty 88 involves actions court-martial court. deliberation arrangements, agree, May 16, asserted view completed action, attempting prolong jurisdictional create situation basically affect relations many nations. 89 For these reasons, carefully They now 90 Secretaries' 91 part-time 92 Efforts effective. red boundary flags were, customary, erected warning off, proposed frequently incid nt. These created risk injury themselves live charge withdrew troops interval simulated attacks soldier, Lieutenant, top hill. 93 occurred. civilian, died few moments launcher. She previously similarly vicinity hit. 94 intending frighten civilians. Others stated, entice approach. 95 Under U.S.-Japanese Treaty, adopted national, 'arising 96 taken was, therefore, 97 division 98 procedure disputed 7, U.S.-Japan to. 99 Various meetings Embassy Tokyo attended capacity observer. sides continued press claims reach agreement. 100 General, reported executive agent settlement, rejected inadvisable circumstances. instructions accordingly issued, Command continue claim deadlock, waive weeks additional negotiations, name States. 101 subsequently judicial wounding—the least serious homicide law. law, presented sides, weighed court, 102 Law 777 84th Congress, 751 seq., th pay counsel chosen defend guaranteed prompt trial, representation satisfactory charges confront witnesses, compelled attend competent interpreter, communication presence observer report aspects fairness proceedings. 103 will, course, see counsel, render every proper protection rights. 104 stationed national defense help strengthen Free World struggle Communist imperialism. host countries, servicemen abroad agreements. 105 operation system greatest measure trust cooperation. Since overwhelming majority personnel, favor action. utmost fairness. Treaties International 3329; Act Series 2491. Other 3341; 2492. 1792; 2846. 1846; 2848. offered accepted below seal. posture us. oral argument objection removing issues record, unsealed.

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