COURT-MARTIALLED.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1162, 1 November 1917, Page 7

COURT-MARTIALLED.

c ■ I DESERTER HIDES IN THE BUSH. Press Association. AUCKLAND, October 31. At a court martial to-day Private Gilbert Walker, a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, was arraigned on two charges of failing to present' himself for medical examination at Hamilton on February 3 and May 4 respectively, and a charge of desertion in that at Hamilton on May 4 he ab-! sented himself without leave from the Force until he was apprehended by the civil police at Korakonui on October 8. The evidence showed that Walker was drawn in the third ballot, and notices had been sent by post and refused. He had been hiding in the bush for some 1 months through the winter. When a party of four police approached in the bush, accused threatened them with a rifle, saying: "Stand back, or I'll shoot." After a short scuffle he was disarmed and arrested. The rifle was found to be unloaded, but accused stated that he had ammunition in a hidingplace in the bush, in which direction he was proceeding when intercepted by the officer. He was in poor condition as a result of privations in the bush. For the defence, Mr Napier contended that the prosecution must fail, because the charges, which were laid under section 9 of the Army Act, were not set out in accordance with that section, and, .further, that the command to attend medical examination was not a personal one, as required by the section. Mr Denniston, in reply, urged the Court to adjudicate not on the exact wording, but on the intention of the Act. Decision was reserved.