RECEIVED AT PEN. JAN 23 1921

RELEASED FROM PEN. NOV 29 1933

General Court-Martial

Orders, No. 175.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, October 29, 1920

Before a general court-martial convened at Fort McKinley, Philippine Islands, June 1, 1920, pursuant to paragraph 11, Special Orders, No. 68, Headquarters, Philippine Department, March 22, 1920, and orders amendatory thereto, of which Col. Elmore F. Taggart, Infantry, was president, and 1^st Lieut. Reginald S. Laughlin, 31^st Infantry, assistant judge advocate, was arraigned and tried—

Private Antoni Karachun, 2368422, Machine Gun Company, 31^st Infantry.

Charge I. —"Violation of the 58^th Article of War."

Specification,-- "In that Private Antoni Karachun, Machine Gun Company, 31^st Infantry, did, at Vladivostok, Siberia, on or about the 18^th day of March, 1919, desert the service of the United States, and did remain absent in desertion until he was apprehended at Vladivostok, Siberia, on or about the 21^st day of February, 1920."

Charge II. —"Violation of the 81^st Article of War."

Specification,-- "In that Private Antoni Karachun, Machine Gun Company, 31^st Infantry, did, at Renovka, Siberia, on or about the 12^th day of June, 1919, directly hold correspondence with, and give knowledge to, the enemy, by joining their forces and operating with their troops."

Charge III. —"Violation of the 94^th Article of War."

Specification,-- "In that Private Antoni Karachun, Machine Gun Company, 31^st Infantry, did, at Vladivostok, Siberia, on or about the 18^th day of March, 1919, feloniously take, steal and carry away one (1) Cap, fur, of the value of $7.00; one (1) Belt, waist, of the value of $.23; one (1) Coat, O. D., of the value of $6.78 ; one (1) Shoes, marching, pair, of the value of $4.65 ; one (1) Drawers, woolen, of the value of $2.00; two (2) Undershirts, woolen, each of the value of $2.00, of a total value of $4.00; one (1) Puttees, spiral, O. D., of the value of $2.20; one (1) Breeches, woolen, O. D., of the value of $4.82; one (1) Mitts, fur, of the value of $6.50; one (1) Coat, sheep-lined, of the value of $25.00 ; three (3) Sox, heavy woolen, pairs, each of the value of $.55 per pair, of a total value of $1.65 ; two (2) Blankets, woolen, O. D., each of the value of $6.50, total value $13.00 ; one (1) Bag, barracks, of the value of $.07, of a total               (next page)

value of about $78.80, property of the United States, furnished and intended for the military service thereof."

Charge IV. —" Violation of the 96^th Article of War."

Specification,-- "In that Private Antoni Karachun, Machine Gun Company, 31^st Infantry, did, at Vladivostok, Siberia, on or about the 20^th day of February, 1920, with the intent to persuade Private William J. Jennings, Company G, 31^st Infantry, to leave his post as Sentry, offer him money."

PLEAS

To all the Charges and the specifications thereunder, "Not guilty."

FINDINGS

Of all the Charges and the specifications thereunder, "Guilty."

SENTENCE

"To be hanged by the neck until dead." (Two-thirds of the court concurred in the sentence.)

The record of trial was forwarded by the reviewing authority with the following remarks:

June 26, 1920

In the foregoing case of Private Antoni Karachun, Machine Gun Company, 31^st Infantry, the findings of the Specification, Charge II, and of Charge II, are disapproved because in the opinion of the reviewing authority it is at least doubtful that the Russians with whom the American troops came in contact in Siberia were "enemies" in the meaning of the 81^st Article of War. The findings of the Specification, Charge III, and of Charge III, are disapproved because of insufficient evidence of record to support them. The sentence is approved, but the execution thereof is suspended until the pleasure of the President be known and the record of trial is forwarded for action under the fifty-first Article of War, recommending that the sentence be commuted to dishonorable discharge, total forfeitures and confinement at hard labor for twenty (20) years.

F. J. Kernan,

Major General, Commanding.

The case having been forwarded for the action of the President, the following are his orders thereon:

In the foregoing case of Private Antoni Karachun, (2368422), Machine Gun Company, 31^st Infantry, the findings of guilty of Charge IV and the specification thereunder are disapproved. The findings of guilty of        (next page)

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 Charge I and the specification thereunder are approved. The sentence is confirmed and commuted to dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances due or to become due, and confinement at hard labor for a period of twenty (20) years. As thus commuted the sentence will be carried into execution.

Woodrow Wilson

The White House,

29 October, 1920.

The United States Penitentiary, McNeil Island, Washington, is designated as the place of confinement.

By order of the Secretary of War:

PEYTON C. MARCH

Major General, Chief of Staff.

Official:

P. C. HARRIS,

The Adjutant General.

*Thank you to Bob Willett for submitting this to me.*