THE CASE OF D'ORIDANT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13914, 15 November 1919, Page 3

THE CASE OF D'ORIDANT.

By Telegraph.

(Special to the Oamaru Mail.) WELLINGTON* November 15. ■ A former corporal in the New Zealand military police named W. A. D'Oridant, who was dismissed froni' the forces in disgrace last September after 28 days' detention, has been cleared oi; the charge, the Defence Department, though refusing to rehear this case, agreeing to remove the conviction from his personal tile, to grant him an honorable discharge dating from August 6th, 1919, thedate of the ordinary demobilisation, 'and to hand him. arrears of pay amounting to £196, covering the period from the date of his dismissal to the date of his new discharge. D'Oridant was a fisherman at Oamaru ,and owned a launch which the Defence Department used for patrol work in Wellington Harbor, the owner being made corf/oral and employed 'as' launch jmaster. Captain. Gray, assistant provost marshal, 'Wellington, went out in the launch on the night of August Ist, and, as a result lojf certain happenings D'Oridant charged Gray with drunkenness. The accused was placed under close arrest on August 16 and was held 17 days without being allowed to see a lawyer. lie -was confined in. a bare iaell, having to sit on. a concrete floor,occasionally>to share a cell with' private soldiers arrested for drunkenness. • At the court-martial' Captain' Gray,-who has since left.the force, denied having taken drink on 1 August Ist. *' D'Orid,ant was convicted.of having 'knowingly...made- a false accusation against his. superior -.officer. He has failed to obtain a rehearing; but the Defence Department/'without further j explanation, - has reversed ? the original conviction! Captain Gray is said to be '"'otit'of town."