GRAVE CHARGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24292, 5 June 1942, Page 4

GRAVE CHARGE

AMERICAN SOLDIER I MURDER OF WOMEN COURT-MARTIAL ARRANGED MELBOURNE, May *25 American Army officers will be nominated to constitute a general courtmartial, before which an American soldier will appear to answer a charge based on investigations into the recent murders of three women in Melbourne. The soldier's detention in connection with the crimes was aimouuced by a high United States military officer. He said that the man had been given into the custody of the American Army by agreement with the Australian State authorities, and was being held in close confinement pending the courtmartial. The officer explained that it was the custom of the United States Army when at war to handle all cases in. which its members were alleged to have committed crimes. Outside the United States it was necessary to make arrangements with the civil authorities. Detective Witnesses "The present case is being prepared lor trial," the officer added. "This includes preparation of formal charges." Trial of the case by court-martial will not prevent the holding of coroner's inquests into the deaths of the three victims. Detectives will be key witnesses at the court-martial, and at any civil inquiry. it is expected that the trial of the soldier will be public, as American courts-martial are conducted in open Court, except when the testimony is of such a scandalous nature that spectators are barred, or when secret iniormation is being discussed. A preliminary investigating body set up bv the bin ted States Army could have committed the case to any one ot three types of court-martial —summary, special, or general. 1 lie gravest cluuges are dealt with by general courts-mar - tial, which are usually composed ot five or more officers. It, by exercise ot the right of challenge, the Court is reduced below five, the case must be adjourned until a new panel is appointed. Three-fourths Majority Verdict In this respect the system has a semblance to trial by ju ry in a Supreme Court, but a difference is that the jury system requires a unanimous verdict, but a military courtmartial can convict on a three-fourths majority. The Army's judge-advocate is prosecutor, and counsel tor the defence is always provided from the Army legal branch. The accused mav also have civilian counsel, and may dispense with military counsel if he chooses. He can call aiiv witnesses he desires. The Court includes a law member, who is usually from the staff of the Judge Advocate-General. The Judge Advocate-General of the United States Army in Australia is Colonel Ernest Burt. If an accused man pleads guilty the taking of evidence is at the discretion of the Court. Any man found guilty of murder may be sentenced to death by either hanging or shooting, by decision of the Court. In serious cases the verdict is reviewed by the senior officer ill the area, in this instance General MacArthur. When the charge is as grave as that likelv to be faced by soldier in the present case, any decision of the general court-martial would be reviewed also in Washington. LIBERTY LOAN RESPONSE TOTAL NEARLY £17,500,000 (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday The Reserve Bank states that since the announcement by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, of Libertv Loan subscriptions totalling £17,131,610, many hundreds of applications have been received direct through the mail and more are expected to-morrow. The total to-day was £17,445.040, comprising £6,247,190 in 2,V per cent 1947 stock, £10.991,200 in 3"per cent 1952-55 stock, and £206,650 from Liberty Bonds. It is reasonable to anticipate, therefore, that the loan will be over-subscribed to the extent of approximately £2,500,000. LABOUR FOR HARVESTS ORGANISATION ASSURED (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday The organisation next year of labour for the harvesting season was assured bv the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, at a conference of South Island potato-growers to-day. ''There will have to be a lot of organisation for labour next year," said Mr. Barclay. "The towns are willing to hoi]). We will have to organise; we cannot go along higgledy-pigglcdly." Mr. Barclay said they should make as little demand as possible for the release of manpower for farms from the Army, but there were some things at harvesting time which town people could not do. "We will do our best for labour for you," he assured the conference. An assurance that the Government would take definite steps to see that labour was made available for harvesting and planting linen flax crops, and, if necessary, this labour would have to come out of the Army, was given by the Director of Primary Production, Mr. R. B. Tennent, when addressing a conference of South Island linen flax growers. held in Christchurch. ' The conference discussed the labour shortage, the disposal of rejected crops and the guaranteed price. A provisional committee of producers was set up to confer with the linen flax management committee in order to facilitate production. MORE FARM PRODUCE DEMANDS IN BRITAIN (Rrrd. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, June 3 Mr. Robert Hudson, Minister of Agriculture, has warned farmers that he is looking for another increase in food production next year because, owing to the changes in Allied strategy, the Government has to make further demands on the farming community. The Times observes that though British farmers may have thought 1912 must mark the peak in tillage, and this year's acreages of corn, potatoes and other crops were the maximum obtainable, there is no doubt they will tackle a bigger task next year if the necessary fertilisers and machinery are provided. CAR STRUCK BY TRAIN (0.C.) W HANGAR EI, Thursday A car driven by Mr. R. Wallace, of Mania, was struck by a southbound goods train at a railway crossing at Valley Road, flikurangi. Mr. Wallace was thrown clear and was uninjured except for a cut forehead and shock. The car was damaged extensively. REM I; ERA LICENSING A very brief annual meeting of the Remuera Licensing Committee, held yesterday, was presided over by Mr. J. 11. Luxford, S.M. The only business before it. was an application from W. S. Brown for a renewal of the licence of the Royal George Hotel. The police offered no objection and reported that requisitions had been complied with. The application was granted.