Case: FRANCIS MAGURN v. THE UNITED STATES
Abbreviation: Magurn v. United States
Decision Date: 1904-04-18
Docket Number: No. 23320
Citation: 39 Ct. Cl. 416
Volume: 39
Reporter: United States Court of Claims Reports
Court: United States Court of Claims
Jurisdiction: United States
Parties: FRANCIS MAGURN v. THE UNITED STATES.
Judges: Peelle, J., dissents for reasons stated in the case of Dag-gett (ante p. 209).
Pages: 416–419

Head Matter:
FRANCIS MAGURN v. THE UNITED STATES.
[No. 23320.
Decided April 18, 1904.]
On the Proofs.
The claimant is entitled to a furlough of sixty days under the general orders of the War Department at the close of the war with Spain, as set forth in Hunt’s Case (3S C. Ols. R., 704). lie does not receive the furlough, and is detained for duty, and actually performs duty, except while on sick leave during a part of the furlough period. He is at all times subject to the orders of his superior officers.
I.Under the Act 26th May, 1900 (31 Stat L., 217), an officer mustered out in May, 1898, was entitled to one or two months’ extra pay, provided that he had served faithfully during the _war with Spain and had been “honorably Mschm-ged without furlough.” An officer who did not receive leave of absence but was detained for duty and actually performed duty during the furlough period, except while on sick leave, is entitled to the full two months’ pay.
II.The general principle governing these cases is that if, during the furlough period, the officer or soldier was subject to the orders of superior authority, or was by order under medical or surgical treatment in a hospital, or otherwise subject to the orders of the medical staff, he was not on furlough; but if during a part of the furlough period he was neither subject to duty, nor waiting under orders, such part is to be considered as furlough pro iawto,‘and the extra pay is to be diminished pro rata.
III.A furlough in these cases must be deemed to have been withheld or suspended whenever it appears that orders by superior authority have interfered with the personal freedom of the officer or soldier to dispose of his own time. Peelle, J., dissenting.
The Reporters’ statement of the case:
The following are the facts of the case as found by the' court:
I. The claimant herein, Francis Magurn, was enrolled in the military service of the United States, in the Ninth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, as major and surgeon, on the 4th day of May, 1898, and was mustered into said service May 12,1898.
Said claimant served honestly and faithfully beyond the limits of the United States, and was honorably discharged on the 23d day of January, 1899.
II. On the 8th day of September, 1898,.a furlough of sixty days for said regiment was authorized under General Orders, No. 130, Adjutant-General’s Office, 1898, and amendatory circulars. The above-named claimant did not receive such furlough, but was detained for duty and actually performed duty during the furlough period, except while on sick leave from September 8 to 15, and from the 15th to the 20th September, 1898, and Avas at all times subject to the orders of his superior officers until muster out.
Messrs. George A. and William B. King for the claimant.
Mr. George M. Anderson (with whom was Mr. Assistant Attorney-General Pradt) for the defendants.

Opinion:
Wright, J.,
delivered the opinion of the court:
This suit is brought by the plaintiff to recover the extra pay provided for officers and enlisted men of the United States Volunteers by the first section of the act of Congress approved January 12, 1899 (30 Stat. L., 784), extended by act of May 26,1900 (31 Stat. L., 217), which is as follows:
" That in lieu of granting leaves of absence and furloughs to officers and enlisted men belonging to companies and regiments of United States Volunteers prior to muster out of the service, all officers and enlisted men belonging to volunteer organizations hereafter mustered out of the service who have served honestly and faithfully beyond the limits of the United States shall be paid two months' extra pay on muster-out and discharge from the service, and all officers and enlisted men belonging to organizations hereafter mustered out of the service who have served honestly and faithfully within the limits of the United States shall be paid one month's extra pay on muster out and discharge from the service, from any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated: Provided, That the discharge of all officers and enlisted men from the volunteer service of the United States shall, as far as practicable, take effect on the date of the muster out of the organization to which they belong, and that regiments and other independent organizations shall be mustered out at camps within the limits of the United States or at the rendezvous of the State, regiment, or independent organization."
The act approved May 26, 1900, provides :
" That the act approved January twelfth, eighteen hundred and ninety-nine, granting ' extra pay to officers and enlisted men of the United States Volunteers,' shall extend to all volunteer officers of the general staff who have not received waiting orders prior to discharge, at the rate of one month to those who did not serve beyond the limits of the United States and two months to those who served beyond the limits of the United States; and officers and enlisted men of volunteer organizations, who have served honestly and faithfully in the Volunteer Army of the United States during the war with Spain and have been honorably discharged without' furlough, or by reason of their services being no longer required, or at any time by reason of wounds received or disability contracted in the service and in the line of duty, and who have not received the extra pay granted in said act or in subsequent acts of Congress supplemental thereto: And this act shall be deemed to apply to officers of volunteers who resigned and enlisted men of volunteers who were discharged upon their own applications' subsequent to the issue of orders for the muster out of their organizations and prior to the dates of muster out."
The general principle upon which this and other similar cases have been disposed of during the present term is, that if the facts disclose that during -the 'furlough period the officer or soldier was subject to the orders of superior authority, whether such officer or soldier did much or little or any duty, or if the officer or soldier was by order under medical or surgical treatment in a hospital, or otherwise subject to the orders of the medical staff, then- such officer or soldier was not on furlough; or, in other words, if his time had not been placed at his own personal disposal, then the furlough did not exist. If such officer or soldier enjoyed, in soliclum, any part of the furlough period, during which he was not subject to duty, nor Avaiting or responding under orders for duty, then such part is to be considered as furlough pro tanto, and the extra pay should be diminished 'pro rata. If, however, the officer or soldier Avas merely excused from duty from day to day, or from time to time, with tire understanding he Avas again to report at a stated time or times, then the furlough Avas not existing.
In all these decisions it has been considered that the furlough had been withheld or suspended whenever it appeared that orders by superior authority, verbal or written, had been directed to the officer or soldier, obedience to which interfered with the personal freedom of the subject of them to dispose of his own time as he might please. It Avas not for the subordinate to decide whether" the service required of him Avas a military duty; it Avas for him only to obey.
This plaintiff served beyond the limits of the United States and did not have ffiaA^e of absence or furlough and is therefore entitled to two months' extra pay, four hundred sixteen dollars and sixty-seven cents ($416.61), for which judgment, will be awarded.
Peelle, J., dissents for reasons stated in the case of Dag-gett (ante p. 209).