CRAMPTON COURT-MARTIAL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11760, 20 February 1919, Page 6

CRAMPTON COURT-MARTIAL.

Per Press Association. Wanganni] February 19. At tbe Crampton court martial, Private Thomas Moynahan gave evidence that while in tbe barracks on May Ist, he was sentenced to pack drill. A uniform was given him which he refused to don, but it was forcibly pat on, he being considerably knocked about. Crampton was not present. He complained to Crampton that he had been kicked over the heart. Witness was taken back to his cell, where his uniform was again forcibly put on him, and he wss'ordered pack:drill. After chnrcb a pack was put on forcibly and witness ordered to march. His head was bnmpgd on a wall and he was punched on the was then present. Witness was ordered to march bnt did not and was pushed round the yard for a few turns and humped into the wall. Different officials took tnrns about in pushing him round the yard. Crampton asked witness if he gave in. Faulkner grabbed witness by the hair and pulled him along the yard. Witness struck him, then all got on to him and knocked him about. Faulkner kicked him while he was on the ground. Crampton came into the yard then, and ordered the guards to carry on with witness. Crampton said “Rush his b— head through the wall,” The guards did their best to do so and took photographs and said to witness “I’ll beat you Moynahan. I’m a pigheaded Irishman like you are.” Witness asked to be given one guard at a time and not care. His rifle was tied on to his left arm with a string, which kept coming off. Faulkner humped it against his face until the blood ran. Tie guards kept witness for an hour. Then ordered him inside when he said “He would give in.” To Mr Longhnan : Was violently kicked on various occasions. After witness struck Faulkner the latter knocked him down and kicked him, witness was sore for a week afrer the experience and was black and blue on the back. He stood to be photographed, Faulkner holding the rifle. He was examined by a doctor at the barracks sometime atar, not the next day. rHe denied £,that he told the doctor that he had been kicked over the heart on the pre vions day After 48 honrs in a padded cell on bread and water he was too weak to carry on, a doctor examined him. tie denied that the barrel of a rifle had been put through the shoulder strap and tied to his wrist at the commencement of the drill and remained in that position throughout. Moynahan said the photographed was standing with his rifle at ease. Mr Longhnan handed witness two photographs showing Moynahan with tho rifle at the slope, the barrel passing through shoulder strap. Witness maintained that his story was trne. Hany Wilson deposed to being in a cell an t bearing orders given by Crampton also oontinuons banging. Through a crack in the window he had seen Moynahan with a"rifla "tied to his shoulder and a long rope ronnd his neck. He said that Moynahm gave in] in the yard.