COURT-MARTIAL

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 14205, 2 September 1919, Page 2

COURT-MARTIAL

CHARGE OP DESERTION. A Court-martial was held at Palmerston yesterday touching the case of No. 12699 Roydon Leo (Mr Ongley), on remand, who was charged with failing to present himself for medical examination on April 25th, 1917, at Palmerston North, and remaining absent till August 9th, 1919, when he was apprehended at Taihape. The Court included Major Bosworth (president), Captain Braddell, and Lieutenant Ansell. Lieutenant Slipper prosecuted. The case had been previously adjourned to enable accused to produce a birth certificate to prove that he was 49 years of age and not 45 as stated in the prosecution. > Mr Ongley stated that the certificate had not yet been procured and he asked the Court to hoar accused's evidence and then adjourn the case until it came to hand. Accused stated that as far as he knew he was 48 years of age. When war broke out he was bush-felling at the back of Te Kuiti. He had gone to Auckland to enlist with the Mail'. Body but Dr Savage, who medically examined him, had rejected him on account of an unsound foot caused through a tree falling on it. After this rejection he had gone to the King Country. His national registration papers w'cre sent in from Shannon. He worked at Makerua until February, 1936, and on leaving there did not notify his change of address to the military authorities. He had never received notice that he had been drawn in the ballot. He could not road but could just sign his oven name. ,Hc had been living under his own name all the time and had no objection to military service. He would have been willing to serve at any time had he known he was wanted. To Lieut. Slipper: He was born at Riverton, where there w r as another family named Lee. He wns not aware he was ever known as Roland Olliver Lee and had never known anybody of that name. Ho wtis not aware it was necessary to advise the Government Statistician when he left Makerua. A military officer in Wellington told him he had not been drawn in the ballot. He had no opportunity after leaving Makerua of ascertaining whether he had been drawn in the ballot. To Mr Ongley: When rejected in Auckland ho believed he was finished with as far as military service was concerned. To the Court: He had given his age as 44 years when examined in Auckland. The examination took place at the drill shed at the latter end of August or the beginning of September. The case was then adjourned.