Jeffries v. United States

169 F.2d 86, 1948 U.S. App. LEXIS 2185
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
DecidedJuly 8, 1948
DocketNo. 3572
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 169 F.2d 86 (Jeffries v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jeffries v. United States, 169 F.2d 86, 1948 U.S. App. LEXIS 2185 (10th Cir. 1948).

Opinion

PHILLIPS, Circuit Judge.

Jeffries was convicted on an indictment charging that he was required to register under the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, 50 U.S.C.A.Appendix, § 301 et seq.; had registered with Local Board No. 1 for Scott County, Kansas; had been classified in 4-E; had been ordered to report to such Local Board on January 21, 1946, and, being charged with the duty of reporting to such Board for work of national importance, had failed, neglected, and refused to report to such Local Board at the time and place designated in such order.

Jeffries registered with Local Board No. 1 of Scott County, Kansas, on July 30, 1945. A questionnaire was mailed him on July 30, 1945. He filled it out and returned it to the Local Board on August 4, 1945. In such questionnaire, he stated that he was a minister of religion and that he had served as a minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses since January 15, 1941. He further stated that he was a farmer and that, as such, he milked cows, drove a tractor, combine, and plow; that he worked on a farm as a hired hand; that the crops on the farm consisted of 600 acres of wheat and 40 acres of maize, and that the livestock consisted of 15 cows, 11 hogs, and 500 chickens. On September 17, 1945, he submitted two affidavits signed by the Company Servant and the assistant Company Servant of the congregation with which he was associated in support of his claim for IV-D classifica[88]*88tion. The affidavit of the Company Servant averred that Jeffries had been associated with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society since April, 1939; that since January, 1941, he had been engaged regularly in the witness work of Jehovah’s Witnesses; that on April 18, 1943, he was immersed, thus publicly testifying that he had agreed to be a witness for Jehovah; that on March 12,-1944, he enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry course at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses and was still pursuing that course; that on August 31, 1943, he was appointed Stock Servant of the Scott City Company of Jehovah’s Witnesses; that on the date of the affidavit, he was calling upon people of Good Will toward Jehovah in his individual territory at Dighton, Kansas. The affidavit of the assistant Company Servant stated substantially the same facts.

In his questionnaire, Jeffries stated that he had conscientious scruples against participating in combatant and noncombatant service. Accordingly, a special form for conscientious objectors was mailed to him. He filled out that form and returned it to the Local Board on August 18, 1945.

In the form last adverted to, he stated that he was identified with Jehovah’s Witnesses and that, because of his religious training and beliefs, he was conscientiously opposed to participation in war in any form and that he claimed exemption from both combatant and noncombatant training and service and stated that, because of his conscientious objection to both combatant and noncombatant service in the land and naval service, he should be assigned to work of national importance under civilian direction. Shortly after his registration, at the instance of the Local Board, Jeffries filled out a farm work sheet showing in detail the nature of his farm operations. It showed the size of the farm and the nature of the produce grown thereon. In answer to the question “amount of time employed at other than farm work in past 12 mos.,” Jeffries answered “7 days.”

On September 17, 1945, the Local Board classified Jeffries as IV-E.

On September 24, 1945, Jeffries wrote the Local Board a letter in which he stated, among other things, “I hereby appeal to the local board for reconsideration of my Selective Service classification which is 4E. Being an ordained minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses I believe that I am entitled to 4D, because of the time I spend each month in ministerial work. I average 40 hours a month in this type of work. This 40 hours includes, meeting time, studies, preparation for studies, back call work, and regular witnessing time. * * *”

He further stated that he had furnished evidence that he was a Jehovah’s Witness, bearing the descriptive title of “Stock Servant,” and, therefore, was entitled to be classified as IV-D.

In such letter he did not directly or indirectly indicate a desire to appeal from the ruling of the Local Board.

At the trial, he admitted he failed to take any steps to appeal and stated he misstakenly believed he could not appeal unless there was a dissent by one member of the Local Board.

Following receipt of the letter, the Local Board, at its next meeting, reconsidered Jeffries’ classification and reclassified him as IV-E.

On October 25, 1945, Jeffries was notified to appear for preinduction physical examination on October 31, 1945. He appeared at the time and place. On November 12, 1945, he was mailed a certificate of fitness, showing that the Armed Forces, on November 2, 1945, had accepted him for general military service.

On January 2, 1945, the Local Board mailed to Jeffries an order which recited that he had been classified as a conscientious objector to both combatant and noncombatant military service; had been assigned to work of national importance under civilian direction at Public Service Camp No. 128 at Lapine, Oregon; that he would be furnished transportation to the Camp; that he should first go to his Local Board and obtain proper instructions. It directed him, therefore, to report to the Local Board at 2 p. m., January 21, 1946.

On January 21, 1946, at 2 p. m., Jeffries appeared at the Local Board. The clerk asked him to be seated. Jeffries remained standing and stated that he had changed his [89]*89mind about going and left the office of the Local Board.

At the close of the evidence, Jeffries moved for a directed verdict. It was denied.

In Billings v. Truesdell, 321 U.S. 542, 557, 64 S.Ct. 737, 745, 88 L.Ed. 917, the court said: “He who reports to the induction station but refuses to be inducted violates § 11 of the Act [50 U.S.C.A.Appendix, § 311] as clearly as one who refuses to report at all. * * * The order of the local board to report for induction includes a command to submit to induction. Though that command was formerly implied, it is now express. The Selective Service Regulations state that it is the ‘duty’ of a registrant who receives from his local board an order to report for induction ‘to appear at the place where his induction will be accomplished,’ ‘to obey the orders of the representatives of the armed forces while at the place where his induction will be accomplished’, and ‘to submit to induction’. § 633.21(b).” See, also, United States v. Collura, 2 Cir., 139 F.2d 345.

Clearly, the duty of Jeffries to report embraced more than putting in an appearance at the time and place designated in the order. It included a willingness to be assigned to work of national importance under civilian direction and to go to the camp to which he had been assigned.

The appearance of Jeffries at the office of the Local Board at the time indicated in the order with the intent and purpose not to accept assignment to work of national importance and not to go to the camp to which he had been assigned was as much a noncompliance with the order as if he had not appeared at the office of the Local Board.

The instructions of the court in his charge to the jury to that effect were not erroneous.

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Bluebook (online)
169 F.2d 86, 1948 U.S. App. LEXIS 2185, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jeffries-v-united-states-ca10-1948.