Case: THOMAS L. HARTIGAN v. THE UNITED STATES
Abbreviation: Hartigan v. United States
Decision Date: 1905-01-03
Docket Number: 
Citation: 40 Ct. Cl. 514
Volume: 40
Reporter: United States Court of Claims Reports
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Parties: THOMAS L. HARTIGAN v. THE UNITED STATES.
Judges: 
Pages: 514–515

Head Matter:
THOMAS L. HARTIGAN v. THE UNITED STATES.
[38 C. Cls. R., 346; 196 U. S. R., 169.]
On the claimant's Appeal.
The question in the case is whether the President can summarily dismiss a military' cadet at West Point without there having been a conviction and sentence by court-martial.
The court below decides:
1. The Revised Statutes (sec. 1229) provide that no officer in time of peace shall be dismissed from the service except upon and in pursuance of a court-martial. A cadet is not an officer within the intent of the statute, and the President has power to dismiss him summarily.
2. The Revised Statutes (§134*2, art. "99) declare that tlie word “ officer ” shall be understood to designate commissioned officers, and the word “ soldier ” noncommissioned officers, musicians, artizans, and privates. • xl cadet is uncommissioned, and is neither an officer nor a soldier, though in the military service.

Opinion:
The decision of the court below is affirmed on the same grounds.
Mr. Justice McKenna delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court January 3, 1905.