United States v. Morse

Opinion of the Court

Quinn, Chief Judge:

This is an appeal from the board of review’s affirmance of a conviction for arson and assault and battery, in violation of Articles 126 and 128, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 USC *533§§ 926 and 928, respectively. The only issue is the adequacy of the law officer’s instructions on the matters the court-martial could consider as to a pretrial confession admitted into evidence.

On March 18, 1963, a fire broke out in the latrine of the stockade at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After the fire was extinguished, an examination indicated it was incendiary in origin.…