A MANUAL FOR COURTS-MARTIAL COURTS OF INQUIRY AND OF OTHER PROCEDURE UNDER MILITARY LAW REVISED IN THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL'S OFFICE AND PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR CORRECTED TO APRIL 15, 1917 (CHANGES, NO. I) U .. ~. WUfl d.·C-t,,,-t. " WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1917 WAR DEPARTMENT, Document No. 560. Office of the Judge Advocate General. n D.. of Da JUN 12 1911 WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF, Washington, November 29, 1916. The Manual for Courts-Martial, Courts of Inquiry, and of other Procedure under Military Law, prepared by direction of the Secre- tary of War in the Office of the Judge Advocate General for use in the Army of the United States, is approved, and will be published for the information and guidance of all concerned, including all courts-martial in the Naf.ional Guard of the several States and Ter- ritories and the District of Columbia not in the service of the United States, in so far as applicable, under section 102 of the national- defense act, approved June 3, 1916. The provisions of this Manual will be in force and effect on and after March 1, 1917. By order of the Secretary of War: H. L. SCOTT, Major General, Ohief of Staff. III TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. Introduction..... ... . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . .. .. .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . ix , Chapter. I. Military jurisdiction 1 Section I. Source and kinds of military jurisdiction. 1 Section II. Exercise of military jurisdiction............................. 2 Section III. Persons subject to military law __ 2 Chapter II. Courts-martial--Classification-Composition.................... 5 Section. I. Classification............................................... 5 Section II. Composition............................................... 6 Chapter III. Courts-martial-By whom appointed.......................... 9 Section I. General courts-martial.. . . . .. ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Section II. Special courts-martial.......... . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Section III. Summ.ary courts-martial.. __ .. __ . _ '.' 13 Section IV. Judge advocate............................................ 15 Chapter IV. Courts-martial-Jurisdiction................................... 17 Section I. Jurisdiction in general __ __ 17 Section II. Jurisdiction of general courts-martiaL....................... 21 Section III. Jurisdiction of special courts-martiaL....................... 22 Section IV. Jurisdiction of summary courts-martial __ 22 Section V. Jurisdiction of other military tribunals........................ 23 Chapter V. Courts-martial-Procedure prior to triaL......................... 25 Section I. Arrest and confinement ' 25 Section II. Arrest of deserters by civil authorities .-.. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Chapter VI. Courts-martial-Procedure prior to trial (continued).. 31 Section I. Preparation of charges __ . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . 31 Section II. Action upon charges __ __ __ __ .. 40 Chapter VII. Courts-martial-Organization.................................. 43 Section I. The members.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 44 Section II. The judge advocate __ . __ __ "'"'''' __ 47 Section III. Assistant judge advocate __ __ .. 51 Section IV. CounseL................................................... 51 Section V. Reporter __ . __ __ 52 Section VI. Interpreter __ .. __ __ .-.... 55 Chapter VIII. Courts-martial-Organization (continued).... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Section L Challenges __ .. __ . . . . . . . . 57 Section II. Oaths '... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 61 Section III. Continuances............................................. 63 Section IV. Completion of organization __ .. __ 64 Chapter IX. Courts-martial-Procedure during triaL........................ 65 Section I. Anaignment __ .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 65 Section II. Pleas...................................................... 66 Section III. Refusal to plead. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Section IV. Motions.. __ __ ~ __ __ .. __ __ 74 Chapter X. Courts-martial-Witnesses and depositions........................ 77 Section I. Attendance of witnesses __ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 78 Section II. Depositions................................................. 84 Section III. Fees, mileage, and expenses of witnesses....... . . .. . . .. .... . 88 v VI CONTENTS. Page. Chapter XI. Cour1:<l-martial-Evidence _ __ _. _. _. _. _.. 91 Section I. Introductory provisions . . _ . _............ 93 Section II. Circumstantial evidence. _. _ . ... _.. , _.... " ___ 99 Section III. Testimonial evidence . _ _. _.. __ .. _. __ .. __ . _.... 101 .Section IV. Documents '_" _ . __ . _. _._ ._ __ __ 119 Section V. Examination of witnesses _'" _. _ _ _. . _. _.... 122 Section VI. Cr:edibility of witnesses. _. . _. _. _ _. . . . . . . . 125 Section VII. Depositions and fOTiiller testimony.. _ . _. _ _.. _ _.. . 127 Section VIII. Presumptions ..· __ .. __ . _.. _. _ __ 130 Section IX. Judicial notice. _ _. . . _. _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Chapter XII. Courts-martial-Concluding incidents of the trial.. _ __ . . 139 Section I. Statements and arguments __ .. _ _ _. _ _ ___ 140 Section II. Findings _ _. _. . _. _ _. _ _ 141 Section III. Previous convictions_. _ _.. _. _. _ _.. _. . . .. . . . . . 144 Section IV. Sentences __ '" _. _ __ 145 Chapter XIII. Courts-martial-Punishments __ _ _. _. _. _.... 151 Section I. Disciplinary power of commanding officer __ _ _. . . . . . . . . . 151 Section II. Confinement in a penitentiary __ . _. _ _ . _. _ 153 Section III. War Department policy regarding punishments. _. _ _ 156 Section IV. Prohibited punishments. . _ . _ _ 160 Section V. Death-Cowardice-Fraud . _. _. _ _..... 160 Section VI. Maximum limits _. _ _ . __ _.. 161 Chapter XIV. Courts-martial-Procedure of special and summary courts and procedure on revision _ . _ ;..... 171 Section I. Special courts-martiaL. _ __ _ _ _.. 171 Section II. Summary courts-martial. _. _ _ _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 Section III. Procedure on revision __ . _.................... 172 Chapter XV. Courts-martial-Records of triaL _ __ _" _ 173 Section I. General courts-martiaL __ _.. _. .. _. _......... 173 Section II. Special courts-martiaL. _ _. __ _. . . . . . . . . . . 177 Section III. Summary courts-martiaL _ _ _ 178 Section IV. Correction of records of trial. .. . _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 Section V. Disposition of records of triaL _. . _ _........... 179 Section VI. Loss of records of·trial. _................. 180 Chapter XVI. Courts-martial-Action by appointing or superior authority... . 181 Section I. Action on the proceedings _ _. . . . . . . . . . 182 Section II. Action after promulgation of sentence .. . . . . .. . . .. .. . .. . 190 Chapter XVII. Punitive articles .... _. __ .... _. _. _. _. _... _.. . .. . . . . .. .. .. .. . . 193 Section I. Enlistment-Muster-Returns............................... 196 Section II. Desertion-Absence without leave_ .. _ _ _.:....... 201 Section III. Disrespect-Insubordination-Mutiny _. _. _. _ _. .. . .. . . . . 206 Section IV. Arrest-Confinement _. _. _. _................... 218 Section V. 'War offenses __ .. _.. _ . _. . _.... _. . __ . _...... 225 Section VI. Miscellaneous crimes and offenses_ _. __ . _. _ _..... 237 Chapter XVIII. Courts of inquiry . . _. _. , . . _ _. _. _. . . . . . . 287 Section I. Constitution__ - - _- .. - - - __ _. _. _. - . . . . . . . . . . . 287 Section II. Jurisdiction _. __ . _. _. . _. _. . __ .. __ _. _..... 288 Section III. Composition __ - _. _. _. - - . - . . . . . . . . 288 Section IV. Powers __ _. _. _ _. _. _. _ . __ . _ _. . . .. 289 Section V. Procedure _. . __ . _ __ 290 Section VI. Records. _ __ - _.. _. _- . - . . . . . . . . . . 292 CONTENTS. VII Page. Chapter XIX. Habeas corpus . 293 Section I. Purpose of the writ . 293 Section II. Where restraint is by the United States . 293 Section III. Return to~writ issued by State court . 294 Section IV. Return to writ issued by United States court . 295 Section V. Writ issued in the Philippine Islands . 295 Chapter XX. Miscellaneous and transitory provisions . 297 Section I. Miscellaneous provisions . 297 Section II. Transitory provision ' . 301 Appendices: . 1. The Articles of War . 305 2. System of courts-martial for National Guard not in the service of the United States . 331 3. Charge sheet . 333 4. Forms for charges.' . 335 5. Suggestions for trial judge advocates . 351 6: Form for record-General court-martial and revision proceedings . 355 7. Form for record-Special court-martial . 363 8. Form for record-Summary court-martiaL . 365 9. Forms for sentences _ ' _ . 367 10. Forms for action by reviewing authority _. 369 11. Court-martial orders . 373 (a) General court-martiaL ""'" _ . 373 (b) Special court-martial .......................•.... _ . 374 12. Form for interrogatories and deposition " .. 377 13. Subpcena for civilian witness . 381 14. Warrant of attachment . 385 15. Returns and briefs in habeas corpus proceedings . 387 16. Voucher (Form 338): Civilian witness not in Government employ . 395 17. Voucher (Form 350A): Civilian witness in Government employ . 399 18. Voucher (Form 339): Personal services, reporter . 403 19. Report of inquest•................................................ 407 INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST EDITION. This Manual introduces and interprets to the Military Establish- ment the revised Articles of War which become effective March 1, 1917. The revision supersedes the existing articles, sometimes desig- nated the Code of 1874, and repeals all other laws and parts of laws inconsistent therewith. It will facilitate an understanding of the scope and effect of the revision to refer to the history and develop- ment of the amended Code of 1874, indicate briefly its most serious defects, and summarize the principal changes introduced by the revision. HISTORY OF UNITED STATES ARTICLES OF WAR PRIOR TO 1916. Passing over the earlier enactments of the American Colonies of Articles of War for the government of their respective forces, ex- amples of which are found in the articles adopted by the Provisional Congress of Massachusetts Bay, April 5, 1775 (Am. Archives, 4th series, vol. 1, p. 1350), and the similar articles adopted in May and June of that year by the Provincial Assemblies of Connecticut and Rhode Island and the Congress of New Hampshire (idem, vol. 2, pp. 565, 1153, 1180), we come (a) to the firSt American articles enacted by the Second Continental Congress June 30, 1775, and copied largely from the British Code of 1765 and the Massaehusetts Code; (b) the Code of 1776, an enlargement and modification of the Code of 1775; and ((J) the supplemental Code of 1786, regulating the composition of courts-martial and generally the administration of military justice. The articles in for~e on the adoption of the Constitution of the United States were, by act of the First Congress, made to apply to the then existing Army" so far as the same are ap- plicable" and were continued in force by successive enactments until April 10, 1806, when, by act of Congress of that date,· revised articles, adapted to the changed form of government, were enacted, superseding all other enactments on the same subject. Thus the Code of 1806 was, in effect, a reenactment of the articles in force during and immediately following the period of the Revolutionary War, with only such modifications as were necessary to adapt them to the Constitution of the United States. It comprised 101 articles, with an additional provision relating to spies. During the War of 1812 four of the articles of this code were amended, during the Seminole wars three articles were amended and one new article added, and during the Civil War seventeen articles were amended and eight IX x MANUAL FOR COURTS-MARTIAL. new articles added. All of these new articles and amendments were gathered into the restatement of the articles which appears in the Revised Statutes of 1874, making a code of 128 articles, with the additional provision relating to spies. Between that year and 1912, when this revision was submitted to Congress, the more important amendments have been the summary court and maximum punishment acts of 1890; the repeal of articles 80 and 110 in 1898; the repeal of· article 123 and the amendment of articles 122 and 124 in 1910. DEFECTS OF ARTICLES PRIOR TO 1916 REVISION. The more serious defects of the Code of 1874 were those incident to its development by compilation from Ii, now obsolete and replaced foreign code, and by piecemeal amendment made during periods of war and under the stress of war conditions. Eighty-seven articles of the Code of 1806 survived in the amended Code of 1874 without change or with only minor changes of style, and most of the remain- ing articles of that code without substantial change, with the result that the latter code was unscientific in its arrangement and contained many provisions either wholly obsolete or illy adapted- to present service conditions. We may cite as examples illustrating its archaic character the following of its provisions: The fifty-fourth and fifty-fifth articles prohibited any kind of riot to the disquieting of "citizens of the United States," and article 59 made mandatory the turning over to a civil magistrate of officers and soldiers accused of an offense against the person or property of any" citizen of the United States," but only" upon application duly made by or in behalf of the party injured," ignoring the more modern doctrine that all persons residing within the United States are entitled to the equal protection of the laws, and that crimes are now punished, not at the instance of an individual.but at the instance of the public. Article 126 regulated administration upon the effects of deceased soldiers and devolved the duties incident thereto upon the commanding officer of the troop, battery, or company to which the deceased soldier belonged, but made no provision for similar cases arising among the large class of soldiers who, under the present- day organization, do not belong to troops, batteries, or companies; and similar instances might be multiplied indefinitely. IMPORTANT CHANGES IN REVISION. The limits assignable to this introduction permit only the follow- ing brief summary of the more important changes introduced by the revised articles: 1. Certain provisions of the Revised Statutes and of the Statutes at Large in the nature of Articles of War, and proper for this reason to be incorporated in a military code, are reenacted in their proper