1

Maurice J. McCarron

Maurice J. McCarron enlisted with the Royal Rifles of Canada in the spring of 1941. He was imprisoned with the rest of his regiment in Japanese POW camps until the end of the war. He survived the war. After the surrender, Maurice McCarron returned to Japan to testify against Japanese war criminals. He brought a folder documenting a war crime murder trial home with him after the proceedings (the contents of which follow). After the war, Maurice McCarron worked for Parks Canada in British Columbia. When he retired he moved back to Moncton, New Brunswick.

2

Maurice J. McCarron
World War II, 1939-1945



Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

3

Frank Spears Murder Case

This digest is prepared at the request of the Law Division, Legal Section, GHQ, SCAP. The question involved in: Did the Commission fix a sentence commensurate with the crime committed?

In the case of United States of America -vs- Tatauro FUJITA, and four others, Docket No. 176, decided 6 June, 1947, a Military Commission appointed by the Eight Army, found:

"That on or about 19 July 1945, at or near Tokyo Area Prisoner of War Camp number 5-B, Niigata, Honshu, Japan, the accused, Tatauro Fujita, Kiichi Hosumi, Kanemasu Uchida, Kumaichi Naeda and Kanaaburo Yokoyama, did in conjunction with Tatsutato Kato, unlawfully kill Frank Spears, an American Prisoner of War, in that Kansaburo Yokoyama did forcibly hold said prisoner while Tatsutato Kato, Tatsuro Fujita, Elichi Hosumi, Kanemasu Uchida and Kumaichi Madea did bayonet him to death."

Upon this finding the Commission sentenced the accused as follows:

Tatauro Fujita 5 years at hard labour
Elichi Hosumi 5 years at hard labour
Kanemasu Uchida 5 years at hard labour
Kansaburo Yokoyama 5 years at hard labour
Kumaichi Maeda 2 years at hard labour



Statement of Evidence

American Prisoner of War Frank Spears was mentally unbalanced. (R. 74; Pros. Exhibit 1, p. 15). The accused apparently knew this. One of them, Uchida, used to make public ridicule in and around the camp of the mental condition of Spears. (R. 74). Uchida hated and despised Frank Spears. (R 72-74).

In the early part of July, 1945, Frank Spears escaped from the camp, was promptly recaptured, and returned to the guard house, where Uchida, one of the accused gave him a severe beating. (R 72-74).
In the latter part of July, 1945, and about one month before the surrender, and while the camp commandant, KATO, was absent from the camp, the Japaese prison guards, headed by Uchida, and probably including these accused, gave a sake party, at which they got Frank Spears drunk. After he was gotten drunk at the sake party, Frank Spears was returned to the guard house. Later that night, by some means, he escaped from the guard house. (R. 71-73, 103). One of the accused, FUJITA,d was the duty officer on that night, and had inspected the guard posts at 10:30 on the night of the escape, and at that time Spears was in the guardhouse. (R 103). Almost immediately after Spears escaped from the guardhouse and the camp, the Japanese learned of it. (R 99, line 1). Thereupon, UCHIDA, being the senior Japanese then in the camp, ordered all guards up and organised the searching party. (R. 87, line 31).

Late that night or early the next morning Frank Spears was captured and taken to a lonely place in the mountains where he was held under guard. Later that morning a party of Japanese left the camp with a coffin and a rifle with bayonet attached, and proceeded to the place where Frank Spears was held captive, and upon arrival, proceeded to bayonet Frank Spears to death. Frank Spears was bayoneted to death by the Camp Commandant Kato, Uchida, Hosumi, Maeda and Yokoyama and Fujita.

Charles J. Smith
Chief Prosecutor

Alex C. Pendleton,
Assistant Prosecutor

4

War Crimes Folder, Page 1 (Case #488)
20th Century, Circa 1940's



Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

5

War Crimes Folder, Page 2 (Case # 488)
World War II, 1939-1945



Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

6

War Crimes Folder, Page 3 (Case # 488)
World War II, 1939-1945



Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

7

War Crimes Folder, Page 4 (Case # 488)
World War II, 1939-1945



Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

8

War Crimes Folder, Page 5 (Case #488)
World War II, 1939-1945



Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

9

War Crimes Folder, Page 6 (Case #488)
World War II, 1939-1945



Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

10

War Crimes Folder, Page 7
World War II, 1939-1945



Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

11

War Crimes Folder, Page 8 (Case #488)
World War II 1939-1945



Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

12

War Crimes Folder, Page 9 (Case #488)
World War II, 1939-1945
Alma, Quebec


Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

13

War Crimes Folder, Page 10 (Case #488)
World War II, 1939-1945
Alma, Quebec


Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

14

War Crimes Folder, Page 11 (Case #488)
World War II, 1939-1945



Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum