DISTRICT COURT-MARTIAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1010, 13 November 1917, Page 2

DISTRICT COURT-MARTIAL.

ALLEGED OFFENDERS ON TRIAL, The District Court-martial continuer! the hearing of (lie case yesterday afternoon against Frank Vincent Gully, charged with desertion from llis Majesty's. Expeditionary Forn - at Maslerlori on I2lli duly. 1917. The Bench consisted of Major d, T. Boswortli (president), Captain C. N. Milehell, and Second Lieut, d. S. 11, Biibv, waiting members hein.tr Majors Ashworth and Sclioofield. Captain McDonnell ticted as prosecutor. Frank Vincent Gully staled that he received his notice for medical examination front the Defence Department to parade on December 16, 1016, at Masterton Drill flail. On 'December sbe left Hiaakiirn, where lie was working, and went to Mar tinborough. From that date to tlie 16tb December ho was drinking heavily in Martinborough. Ho duly reported as ord ered on 16th December, but left the Drill Hall between 4 and 5 p.m., because he was under the influence of liquor. On (he next morning (Sunday) he was ill from the effects of drink and walked from Masterton in the direction of Tinui. On arrival there he obtained employment in a scrub cutlers’ camp. He mentioned hi s position will) regard to the military to some fellow-workers, and they said that il tie gave himself up lie would got. five years’ imprisonment. He worked there for three months and then left, when he obtained casual employment on various stations. Ho had no disinclination to serve, but having absented himself from parades, and realising in a sober frame of mind that, he had committed a crime, he was frightened of the consequences and kept away fearing a term of five years’ imprisonment, on apprehension. On October 25. 1917, he was arrested at Carterton on a charge of drunkenness, and when arrested voluntarily informed the police that he was a deserter. He was quite prepared to servo in llis Majesty s forces in any capacity. Had he wanted to desert he would not; have gone to Masterton on December 16 and paraded at the Drill Hall at 12 noon. It was only his weakness in giving way to periodical drinking bouts that prevented him from being examined there and then. Ho left Ins billet at Hinakura on December 5, 1916. because lie thought that should he fail to pass the medical test, which ho was sure he would do, he would have the opportunity of going into camp on homo service duty. After a clerical career of 14 years, principally in the Bank of New Zealand, his health failed, and ho was ordered by liis medical adviser to give up indoor work and to go to Queenstown for three months. Since then ho had followed light employment on sheep stations. He was born of British parents, and contended that it would be unnatural should he feci any disinclination to serve in lI.M. forces. | To Captain McDonnell: He remained. 1 in the hall at Masterton from 12 o’clock till between 4 and 5 in the afternoon, but did not go back at night, because be was the worse for drink. Ho did not sober up till Monday. Ho never notified anyone of his change of address. He did not notify the postmaster at Tinui to send his mail. He considered about reporting shortly after the 16th. He could have reported on the Monday morning at Masterton, but he was suffering from the aftor-elfcets of drink. He walked eleven miles on the Sunday, which took from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. To the Court: He had never enquired whether there was any mail for him at Masterton. He was aged 41. He answered the roll at about 2 p.m. He paraded at 12 noon and was in the hall till 2 p.m. He had never enlisted, and pre ferred not to give the names of the men who advised him not to report. Ho never saw his name in the Gazette. The finding of the Court, is now muh > review by .the confirming officer, and will !,o made known in due course.