United States v. Henry

Opinion of the Court

A board of review affirmed the accused’s conviction for desertion, in violation of Article of War 58, 10 USC (1946 ed) § 1530 (now Article 85, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 USC § 885). We granted review.

To show the initiation of the accused’s absence, the prosecution introduced an extract copy of a morning report entry from the records of his former organization. The entry does not contain the signature of the authenticating officer as required by the then existing regulations. See All 345-400, paragraph 6, May 7, 1943. Instead, in the usual place for the signature…