Docket Date: 157/ May 8-9, 1947, Yokohama, Japan
Charge: Violations of the laws and customs of war: 1. Did willfully
and unlawfully mistreat PWs (spec 1, 2)
Specifications:beatings using closed fists and stove poker;
throwing to the ground using judo; forcing PW to stand at attention
for 7 hours;
Verdict: 5 years CHL
Reviewing Authority Recommendations: Accused mistreated a PW
because he had failed to comme on sick call the previous night;
one another occasion, accused mistreated a PW because the PW
did not agree with his opinion of a fellow PW.
Reviewing Authority: Accused denied all specifications: on
one of the occasions, he became enraged and picked up a stove
poker but checked himself when he realized what he was doing.
Also, there was no regulation prohibiting PWs from getting on
sick call in the morning the day they were to go to work. Accused
never mistreated PWs.
Prosecution Arguments: There are no errors or irregularities
which injuriously affect any substantial rights of the accused;
there is no evidence that the accused was not sane at the alleged
time of the offenses or at the time of trial. There is sufficient
competent evidence in the record to support the findings and
sentence of the Commission.
Defense Arguments: Paul E. Spurlock, Reviewer
Judge Advocate's Recommendations: No Comment Made
