AN ARMY DESERTER

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 207, 30 August 1916, Page 6

AN ARMY DESERTER

ADMITS HIS GUILT. PLEADS EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES. A military court-martial was held at the Narrow -Neck camp this morning to deal with Sapper 4/1444, Michael Lcahey, of tho New Zealand Tunnel Corps, who was charged with having deserted from llis Majesty's Forces by having absented himself from the Avondale camp on December 17 last and remaining awqff until apprehended at Makaraka, Gisborne, on May 25. The Court, convened under the Auckland District Order, consisted of Colonel, C. Harconrt Turner, sth Wellington Bat-1 talion. Major 11. Jolly, 3rd Auckland Mounted Rifles, and Captain W. K. Kewish, R.N.Z.A. Captain J. F. Pullen, | Auckland Garrison Artillery, was prosecutor. There were present also a number of officers for instructional purposes, i Prior to the commencement of the trial the accused soldier said that he had no objection to the composition of the Court, and pleaded not guilty, stating that he desired to make a statement as to his reasons for desertion. Captain Pullen, in briefly reviewing the history of the case, said that about the end of December last, on the day prior to the departure of the Tunnel Corps by the transport, Lcahey had left the camp. He was missing from that time until arrested at Makaraka, near Gisborne, on May 25th. In the police report handed to tho Court it was stated that Leahey had been living with a woman named Walters. A constable had been sent to the house because of a disturbance which was reported to have taken place there. At first the accused asserted that his name was Walters and that the woman was his wife. Later on he admitted he was the man wanted, .and that he was a deserter. In his evidence Leahey stated that he had left the camp because he was suffering from a contagious disease and did not wish to endanger his companions. In the first place he had not intended to desert, but his visits to doctors au-1 chemists seemed to be of no avail.' He had hoped to get better and go back to the camp, but he did not improve. He did not mean to desert. Captain Pullen pointed out to Leahey that if he persisted in his denial of the intention to desert it would involve the charge of "desertion when under orde-3 to proceed on active service," a much more serious offence. Colonel Turner explained the position tc prisoner, who thereupon decided to withdraw the statement. He expressed his regret that his actions had brought on all the trouble. He had been locked up eight dayß in Gisborne, and after arrival in Auckland had been sent to hospital, where he had been confined for three months. In reply to questions, Lcahey said that ht- had remained in and about Auckland for some months after desertion, and ,bad only been in Gisborne a few weeks vhen he was arrested. He had left the camp first 6ome time before the Tunnel Corps was to sail. He would like to be allowed to go to the front. Public proceedings then terminated. The decision of the Court will be communicated to the officer commanding the district.