“Draft Objectors Given Sentences,” Los Angeles Times. November 13, 1941. A1. ---- Two Youths Refusing Parts in Army Life Will Go to Terminal Island --- Two youths who stoutly maintained they wanted in part of service in the United States Army were given prison sentences yesterday by United States Judge Ben Harrison on charges of violating the Selective Service Act.
Henry Welty Kuhns, 22, former University of Redlands student, and Reginald Lewis, 29, of Cambridge, Mass., were sentenced to two and two-and-a-half years respectively, their terms to be served at Terminal Island. FAILED TO REPORT Kuhns was accused of failing to report for induction into the armed forces, according to U.S. Atty, Attilio di Girolame, after he had previously registered for the draft.
He had asked his Redlands board to reclassify him as a conscientious objector and, failing this, lost an appeal and was ordered inducted. Instead of reporting to the induction station he surrendered to the F.B.I.
BACKED BY MOTHER ‘My conscience will not allow me to participate in war or in preparation for war,’ he said on the stand. He was given moral support by his mother, Mrs. Lulu R. Kuhns, Redlands teacher, and by Rev. Norman Taylor, Culver City Methodist Church minister, who said he considered young Kuhns to be sincere in his convictions.
Lewis was accused of failing to register for the draft, and assertively told authorities he ‘did not want any part of Army life,’ according to Asst. U.S. Atty. Rollin Duni.