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2 BN : Headquarters 35th Division American Expeditionary Forces 9th January 1919. GENERAL COURTO ) MARTIAL ORDEES ) ) No. 132 ) 757 Before a General Court Martial which convened at the station of the command of the 137th U. S. Infantry, December 27th, 1918, pursuant to paragraph 3, Special Ordérs 264, Headquartors 35th Division, lst December 1918, was arraigned and tried: ATIONAL AND RDS Private Robert Jerome, Company I, 137th Infantry. Charges. Charge 1 : Violation of the 58th Article of War. Specification 1 : In that Private Robert Jerome, Company I, 137th Infantry, did, at Arches, France, on or about the 30th day of June 1918, desert the service of the United States and did nemain absent in desertion until he was apprehended on or about the 3rd day of July, 1918. Charge II : Violation of the 6lst Article of Warr Specification 1 :: In that Private Robert Jerome, Company I, 137th Infantry, did, at Arches, France, without proper leave, absent him- self from his command from about July 13th, 1918, to about October 6th, 1918. Charge III : Violation of the 96th Article of War. Speci fication 1 : In that Private Robert Jerome, Company I, 137th Infantry, did, at Arches, Frence, on or about the 3rd day of July, 1918, without proper authority, appear in French Army Uniform. Specification 2 : In that Private Robert Jerome, company I, 137th Infantry, a prisoner in confinement in the 6lst Infantry guardhouse did, at Arches, France, on or about the 13th day of July, 1918, escape from such confinement. Pleas. To Specificetion 1, Charge 1 : Not Guilty To Charge I : Not Guilty To Specification 1, Charge II : Not Guilty To Charge II : Not Guilty To Specification 1, Charge III : Guilty. To specification 2, Charge III : Guilty To Charge III : Guilty . Findings. Of Specification 1, , Charge I : Not Guilty Of Charge I : Not Guilty Of Specification 1, Charge II : Not Guilty of Charge II : Not Guilty Of Specification 1, Charge III : Quilty of Specification 2, Charge III : Guilty Of Charge III : Guilty Sentence. To forfeit two- thirds (2/3) of his pay per month for three months. Action. In the foregoing case of Private Robert Jerome, Company I, 137th Infantry, the sentence of the cour t is disapprove.d There is a complete absence from the record of competent evidence, and the evidence given is entirely irrelevant or incompetent and prejudicia; to the accused. The explanation by the president of the court re- quired in cases where the plea is guilty, is entirely erroneous and misleading The ignorance of the court and the improper presentat- ion of the case bir the Assistant Trial Judge Advocate has caused conditions which cannot be corrected by revision and which, as a result of the disepproval necessarily resulting from such conditions permit the excape from punishment of the accused, who is shown by hi own pleas to have been guilty of very grave offence. OFFICIAL: By Command of Brigadier General Dugan: WM. ELLIS H. S. HAWKINS it. Col. Inf. U.S.Army Colonel, General Staff, on diutant Chief of Staff.