National Affairs: Million-Dollar Loss

It took six years and $1,000,000 to press treason charges against California-born ex-Sergeant John David Provoo, 37, a Buddhist devotee who kowtowed to the Japanese after his capture in World War II. Last year he was sentenced to life imprisonment on testimony that his collaboration with the Japanese caused the death of an American fellow prisoner. Last week the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York reversed his conviction, voiding his trial. Reason: he should have been tried where found (Maryland, not Manhattan), and he should not have been subjected to a “prejudicial . . . utterly irrelevant” cross-examination about homosexuality. With the 69 trial witnesses dispersed and at least one (General Jonathan Wainwright) dead, the Justice Department was not certain whether Provoo would ever be tried again.