National Affairs: Civil Trials for Civilians

In Sept. 1952, Robert W. Toth, while serving as sergeant of the guard at a U.S. Air Force bomb dump in Taegu, Korea, was involved in the killing of a South Korean civilian named Bang Soon Kil. But before murder charges were brought against him, Toth was honorably discharged from the Air Force and went to work in a Pittsburgh steel mill. Five months later Civilian Toth was taken into custody by air police to stand court-martial for the murder. Toth's arrest brought on an important and far-reaching struggle between the civil and military systems of justice. Last week the U.S.

Supreme...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!