DESERTER COURTMARTIALLED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10122, 1 November 1917, Page 6

DESERTER COURTMARTIALLED.

(Pur Peers AssonrATioN.) AUCKLAND. Oct. 31. Ai a court-martial held to-day Gilbert Walker was charged with having; failed to present himsell for medical examination at Hamilton on Kebruary 3 and May -I respectively. He was also charged with desertion in that at Hamilton on May -1 he absented himseli without leave from the forces until he was apprehended by the civil police al Korakomii on October S. Evidence .showed Dial Walker was drawn in the third ballot, and notices had been wnl by post and refused, lie had been hiding in the bush -for some months through the winter, and when a parly of four policemen approached him in the bush, accused threatened them with n rifle, saying, "Stand back, or I'll shoot." Alter a shorl scuffle, lid was disarmed and arrested. The rifle was Found to bo -unloaded, hut accused slated that he had unmumitimi in a hiding place in the bush, in which direction he was proceeding. When intercepted by the officers he seas in a poor condition as a result of his privations in the bush. For tin l Mr Napier contended that the prosecution liiusi lailbeeausc the charges, which, wore laid under section 0 of the Army ■ Act, were not ,sol mil in accordance with that section, and further, that the command to attend for medical examination was not ;i personal one. as was required by the section, Captain Dcnnist.on, in reply, urged the Cfi.urt to adjudicate, not on the exact wording, but on the intention ol the Act. Decision was reserved.