United States v. Goddard

Opinion of the Court

GEORGE W. LatimeR, Judge:

The accused was tried by general court-martial in Korea and found guilty of desertion in violation of Article of War 58, 10 U.S.C. § 1530. He was sentenced to be dishonorably discharged from the service, to forfeit all pay and allowances, and to be confined at hard labor for 18 months. The board of review affirmed the findings and sentence, and we granted review to determine whether the law officer’s instructions were prejudicial to the substantial rights of the accused.

The evidence of the Government consisted of a duly authenticated extract copy…