ACQUITTAL VERDICT

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 January 1941, Page 4

ACQUITTAL VERDICT

TRENTHAM COURT-MARTIAL. [PER press association.] WELLINGTON, January 14. The fourth general court-martial to be held in New Zealand during the present war was conducted at Trentham Camp to-day, when'Lieutenant Gaven George Wallace, of No. 2 Training Battalion, was tried on a charge of striking his superior officer, Captain C. H. T. Skelly. The hearing of evidence occupied the whole day, and at 8.15 p.m. the Court returned a verdict of not guilty. The Court consisted of LieutenantColonel D. A- Carty, who presided, Major J. W. Barry, Major E. F. J. Reeves, Major J. F. B. Stevenson, and Captain H. S. Thomas. The Judge Advocate was Captain J. •H. Dunn and the prosecution was conducted by Captain J. W. Hollows. The accused was represented by Mr H. F. O’Leary, K.C., and pleaded not guilty. At the close of the case for the prosecution (published yesterday) Mr O’Leary briefly addressed the Court. He said that it would not be denied that Wallace struck Skelly a blow; but the defence would say the aggressor was Skelly, and what Wallace did was what he believed to be reasonably necessary in his own defence. It was submitted that Skelly, in evidence, had made very important admissions. His admitted remarks to Captain Norris showed that he was a man given to abuse. Wallace, in evidence, gave his version of the encounter, stating that Skelly struck the first blow. “I went and reported to my Commanding Officer and said I was sorry there had been a brawl,” said accused. Lieutenant-Colonel R. Bagnall said Wallace was one of the best .officers in his battalion. Skelly, in his opinion, was useless as an officer. He was quick-tempered, quick to take offence, and had had trouble with the adjutant of the battalion. The Court deliberated for threequarters of' an hour before announcing the verdict.