Word: billingses
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While at Texas the issue of his draft classification arose. Billings had registered as a conscientious objector. The state hearing officer of the Department of Justice recommended that he be classified as such, although Billings was an avowed agnostic.
Found fit for limited service, Billings told the Army officials his intentions and was promptly arrested and informed that they would induct him forcibly by simply reading the oath in his presentce. After hearing. "Do you, Arthur Goodwyn Billings, solemnly swear" and so on, he replied emphatically. "I do not...
The officer then read an article of war which stated that refusal to obey the command of a superior would bring "death or such other penalty as a court-martial may direct. Billings was told by the officer in charge, "Private Billings, I hereby give you a direct order to...
In protest to this action, Billings decided to apply for a writ of habeas corpus. His efforts were unsuccessful.
A captain at the fort, realizing his plight, got copies of the briefs, which the lawyers had never even shown Billings. Finding the Army's case "shot full of holes," he decided to apply for a writ of certiorari that would bring the situation before the United States Supreme Court...