DISTRICT COURT-MARTIAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10114, 23 October 1917, Page 5

DISTRICT COURT-MARTIAL.

CASE OF FRANCIS JOSEPH CARROLL. A 'district court-nnutial was held in Palrnerston this morning tor the purpose of determining a charge of alleged desertion against Francis Joseph Carroll, Glon'Oroua, who was. called up for set vice in February last, and who disappeared and was recently arrested in North Auckland. The trial w> casioned considerable local interest, and when the hour of commencement arrived (lib (Courthouse was crowded, geverai kdics being among those present. The Court was constituted as follows: Lieut.-Colonel T. \V. .McDonald (presided), .Major Bpsworth, Major Schofield, and Second-Lieut. D. 11. Btrkby. .Captain P. K„ Baldwin was prosecutor. Mr A. M. Ongley appeared for the accused, who was brought into Court under guard. Tiro charge against. Carroll was as follows:—"Deserting his Majesty's- service in that ho absented himself from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force from 'I p.m. on Monday, the sth day of February, 1917, until apprehended by the civil police at Awanui North on Tiiesdiy, the. 9th day of October, 1917." In reply to the. president, Carroll said he had no objection |o any individual member of the Court, or his trial being heard by them, lie pleaded "not guilty.' At this stage the Prosecutor made, application for an adjournment in order to enable him to procure witnesses to prove that Carroll was amenable to military law, also lo call two witnesses from Kairaia, whose evidence, the Prosecutor contended, should be leard by the Court. These, witnesses were. Constable Martin, of Kaitaia, and Lieut. Neilson, officer in charge of the guard at the Awanui wireless station. Other witnesses il was desired to call were Mr Howell, former secretary to the First. Wellington Military Service Board, Captain Walker, military representative on the same Board, the postmaster at Glen Oroua, and the constable at Rongotea. Mr Ongley said he had no objection to the adjournment. . The. President said it. was the intention of the Court to have asked for an adjournment had not the Prosecutor done-so, in order that material witnesses might be called. The Court was then adjourned till further orders. ;