Case Summary
Daniel O'Connell, the petitioner, was prosecuted in District Court for the violation of Section 3 of Title 1 of the Espionage Act of June 15, 1917, by conspiring to obstruct recruiting and enlisting, and alleging a conspiracy to evade the provisions of the Draft Act of May 18, 1917, in violation of Section 37 of the United States Penal Code. O'Connell's petition for Mandamus and Habeas Corpus states that both violations were the same and based on the same facts and evidence and, therefore, invalid. In reality, the petition stated O'Connell had not committed a crime but instead was targeted because of his association with the corporation American Patriots. The purpose of this was to raise money to test in the courts the constitutionality of the use of the Draft Act and the draft army in Europe to carry out the war objects of the Allies.
Case Information
Petition type(s)
Petition subtype(s)
- Conspiracy to violate the espionage act
Sites of significance
Outcome
Unknown
Fate of bound party
Unknown
Case Citation
RG 21 U.S. District Court for the Southern Division of the Western District of Washington Civil, Criminal, Admiralty, and Bankruptcy Case Files, 1890-1950, No. 0550
Source material(s)
Case File
Length of case file
Between 21 and 30 pages
Repository(s)
State
Point(s) of law cited
Section 3 of Title 1 of the Espionage Act of June 15, 1917|Draft Act of May 18, 1917, in violation of Section 37 of the United States Penal Code|People vs. Joyce, 246 I11. 124|92 N.E. 607.|20 Ann. Cas. 472|7 L. R. A. (N. S.) 125.|7 L. R. A. (N.S.) 126|7 L. R. A. (N.S.) 128|Ex Parte Roberts, 9 Nev. 414|16 AM. Rep. 1. 8 R. C. L. Sec. 258, page 283|Howard vs. United States, 75 Fed. 986|34 L.R.A. 509|7 L. R. A. (NS) 127|United States vs. Carpenter, 151 Fed. 214|10 ann. Cas. 509|9 L. R. A. (N.S.) 1043.|Ex Parte Gafford, 25 Nev. 101|57 Pac. 484|83 A. S. R. 568.|in re Breton, 93 Me. 39|44 Atl. 125|54 A. S. R. 335.|Ann. Cas. 1913-E, 1250|Ex Parte Duckett, 15 s.c. 210|40 Am. Rep. 694.|Weems v. United States, 217 U.S. 349|Note 55 A. S. R. 264.|Munson vs. McClaudgery, 198 Fed. 72|42 L. R. A. (N.S.) 390|Note 31 L. R. A. (N.S.) 693|Bell vs. State, 48 Ala. 684|17 Am. Rep. 42|Weems v. United States, 217 U.S. 349|Ex Parte Gibson, 31 Cal. 619|19 Am. Dec. 546|Note 45 L. R. A. 136|Ex Parte Cox, 3 Idaho 530|32 Pac. 197|95 A. S. R. 29|Note 1. Ann. Cas. 734.|Ex Parte McGuire, 135 Cal. 339|67 Pac 327|87 A. S. R. 105|People vs. Liscomb, 60 N. Y. 559|19 Am. Rep. 211|Note 7 L. R. A. (U. S.) 124.|Ex Parte Cox, 3 Idaho 530|32 Pac. 197|95 A. S. R. 29.
Tag(s)
- World war i
- American patriots organization
