Chaplain School Holds Mock Court

Stimulating actual court-martial procedure, members of the Army Chaplain School tried one of their number under numbers 95 and 96 of the Articles of War, regulating conduct unbecoming an officer, in a meet court in Langdell Hall at the Law School on Saturday morning.

Under the direction of Major John W. Cost of the Judge Advocate Corps, Chaplain Lieutenant Thomas J. Mattingly arbitrarily accused of the charging enlisted men for the marriage ceremony, was tried with fellow chaplain students acting as prosecutor, defense council, and other court officials.

Defence Testimony

Council for the defense, Major Edwin R. Carter, concluded his case by stating that evidence given was nothing more than hearsay and that the trial had been brought up through personal jealousies and should, therefore, be dropped.

The prosecutor pointed out that some of the witnesses for the defense has given testimonies adverse to their case and that the evidence presented was not hearsay but had been substantiated by several witnesses. Because of the time, the trial was concluded without a decision being given.

Study of court procedure climaxes five hours of military law training which is part of the chaplain's four week course. It is considered that a chaplain can aid his men in personal matters with greater ease if he has a clear understanding of the law.