CHARGES AGAINST SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16979, 12 October 1918, Page 11

CHARGES AGAINST SOLDIERS.

TWO TRIED BY COURT-MARTIAL. 'J. ~ .11' i ' »• i ; ..iVo soldiers, were tried by'"court-martial yesterday. ' '/Tho : court in the first .'case consisted■ "Of / Major; A. Plugge,' C.M.O.J 3rd; Auckland, 1 Regiment; president; / Captain C. R. Bell; New Zealand Railway Battalion; and Lieutenant H. P.' C. 'Clark/' Z.O!A. In /the second,. Captain \V, C. Tilchener, - N.Z.G.A., sat' .'place of Lieutenant Clark. ' Majbr ,1 V. Palleri was prosecutor; , ?sss. •Private- Lionel G. . Jc.-.sop,' who was , drawn in '.] the'.' seventeenth ;ballo'tj was : charged fc with having absented ! himself without leave' on August 16; when he .have paraded with a draft'to ■pro- ' .cee^i.to>camp. ; : -'- ' '.';.-: ,;:'-*- ! -v- ; ' ? 4" : *;;' The. Court, found accused- ; -When : formal-. evidence to.character.had;been given, the ( accused made a brief statement, tie said lie had conscientious/ objections 'to.- 'performing.;•; military sorvico!^';These" had; been strengihened ,by the '/ fact that : for a part 'of tho .time' he* had: been in custody a Maori guard was' placed over , him with a fixed .bayonet.' ■'■ ■' •' ' The sentence-of the -Court will be promulgated in due course t n Gunner W. Murdoch, of the home! service : branchfof/the R.N.Z.A.,'was.charged .with i Wilfully disobeying a lawful order : given personally by SergeaiitF. Fieldsend. -;>Th'e evidence ; was ; the effect that the .accused,; who was :engagedUt: Fort Takaprina,- was instructed to! proceed/to 'Fort Cahtley on transfer, 'v He • refused' ' obey ; the command.' Tlie accused!called several: -witnesses,, and at the 1 ' conclusion of 5 the ' evidence \ made w long; statement,!in 'the .course Of which ho alleged that the disciplme exercised; was/partial . in ■ its, effect;' Ho was,!dissatisfied>with> the regulations' governing 19 ! home' service details, and : had been anxious ;to get his,discharge.' He: avertedthat/he could get no satisfac^ > tion regarding the latter matter. .He had /disobeyed;ithe l /order in the hope that a- : courtmartial would bring- his = grievances : ? to a.head. ;-Hs ,; had 'served in the Cold-- ■ stream Guards and had served Mn the South' African War. ; - : ' . 'Tlio Court adjourned until this.morning . to consider several points.' '•;.-' . " /■;•.. '