Defendant:
Nagakura, Seizo, Supply Corporal, Fukuoka POW Camp NO. 3
Docket No./ Date: 35/ May 10-14, 1946, Yokohama, Japan
Charge: Violation of the Laws and Customs of War: 1. Did unlawfully commit
cruel, inhuman acts and atrocities against American and Allied POWs
Specifications:
Verdict: 40 years confinement at hard labor
Reviewing Authority's Recommendations: The affidavits that corroborate
each other and the testimony of the accused, even had the commission found
his explanations convincing, is "legally sufficient to sustain the
findings and sentence of the commission."
Reviewing Authority: Paul E. Spurlock, Reviewer, Judge Advocate Section
Prosecution Arguments:
Defense Arguments: 1. Accused did his job well. 2. Accused said that
he was sometimes put into a position where there was no alternative but
to strike the prisoners. When this happened, he only struck them lightly
across the buttocks. These prisoners never required medical attention.
3. He did admit to striking or punishing prisoners on several occasions
because they had violated the rules of the camp.
Judge Advocate's Recommendations: 1. Concerning the affidavits, the opinion
of this reviewer is interesting: "The facts that the prisoners, in
most instances, were separated by a great distance of miles when they
made their statements and could not have influenced each other, and the
fact that there is a corroboration of the statements, leads one ot become
strongly convinced of the truth of the matters alleged therein."