A QUESTION OF SOBRIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17425, 20 September 1918, Page 3

A QUESTION OF SOBRIETY

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST A CAPTAIN. MILITARY POLICE CORPORAL OOURT-MA.IITIALLED. (Pjcb UNITED PBIRS Absooiatto-I.) a<• , i WELLINGTON, September 19. ty?. • , . , cour '" m ".rtiiil of Corporal I> Undiint who was alleged to have lalsely accused Captain Gray of being drunk while on duty. I) Ondimt, in his evidence, described the patrol top round a troopship, ai.,l said a powerful searchlight was in use all the t was ui plain view. Captain t*ray, who was steering, made a sudden turn towards the ship while circling, and the launch almost collided. Witness reversed toe engine and then went slow ahead til) the launch cleared the ship. On the way back Captain Gray took a course straight towards the schooner Visible, 300 yds away. When the schooner was only 60yds away Private Brown told Captain Gray that there was a ship ahead. At the same time witness helped the captain to put the nfum ovet The launch cleared the schooner by a few yards. The searchlight was burning all the time. At tJio stops Captain .Gray slipped and fell forward. The tide was high, and the steps above water wore dry. Witness followed Captain Gray to the inner guards ™ o ™-, CaP 4o '," l . Gray said that Captain xiiJi had asked if Corporal D'Oridant had not been guilty of gross dereliction of dutv in being away from his ship on the night the Germans escaped. Witness replied that he had been off duty, and that he applied to Captain Gray for a substitute. Captain Oray asked for a written report, which was made. Subsequently, later in the evenW -?L t? ook tl,c launch back to tlio warship with Private Brown, and asked the private it he noticed anything. Brown said : ''Yes; could smell it on him." On August 3 he reported the matter to Captain Hill, and said he would like to go before a higher authority. Captain Hill told him to out the charge in writing. He did this, and took the document to Captain Hill's office • 8 " He dicl not Captain j August 16, when the charges were read to him and some of the evidence. Captain Hill then placed him under close arrest. Witness served in the 2nd Life Guards and Naval Reserve more than two years about 30 years ago. It was still his opinion that Captain Gray was drunk on the night of August 1. He had questioned various members of the forces, but foi'nd them aU very reticent. They appeared to be afraid to say what th"v knew. When asked for a written statement, Private Brown refused, saying it would '"'put his pot on. The hearing will be continued to-morrow.