THE THACKER INQUIRY

Timaru Herald, Volume CVII, Issue 16444, 16 January 1918, Page 8

THE THACKER INQUIRY

CASE OP BUGLER BURROWS. Pbb Pbess Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 14. The Court of.lnquiry convened to in - vestigale charges made by Dr Thacker and others regarding the conduct of members of military medical boards which have done duty in tho Canterbury district continued its sittings today, J Taj or Loach presidingWlien the case of Busier AYiliam .Horace Burrows was called on, T)r IhacKer produced a certificate showing that. Burrows was too ill to attend. .Tlie court conferred Jind it was decided that tho medical members of the court should examine Burrows After nn adjournment the officers reported that Burrows had sufficiently recovered to attend tho court or to give evidence at his home, and the Court adjourned thereto.

In a statement on oatli, Bugler Burrows said he enlisted voluntarily, and wont to camp with the Twenty-fourth Reinforcements on January 5 fcist year. On the I'lst- he was granted five davs" sick leave, and on tlio last dav of his went to Lieutenant-Colonel Mac Gibbon, assistant director of medical services in Canterbury, wlio said, "Oh, what's the mat,*or with you? Have you got a tired fit?" "Witness told him that he was going back io camp that night, but wanted hin to examine his cliest. Dr Mac Gib.ion did so, and pave him four extra davs' leave. At its expiration witness eoni suited Dr Tlinekjer, who examined him i "Witness was toid that his loft side had .•suffered from pleurisy in the past, and that he was threatened with n sudden breakdown and an attack 01 phthisis. Dr Thacker gave him a certificate to Surgeon-General Henderson, who said lie should not "have been passed, and gave him a letter for the Commandant at. Awapuni Camp, recommending; his immediate discharge. "Witness went before the Medical Board, but ho action was taken. He was again taken ill in camp, and told to .report- to Colonel*" Fyffe for treatment. On reaching Wellington he communicated with Dr Fyffe, who said he had 110 wor3 from Awapuni about witness, and could not. see him that day as he was off duty. Being almost penniless witness accepted a loan from a stranger, and came on to Chriutchurcli arriving on Sunday. March 11. day he saw Dr Thacker. and reported to .headquarters, being told by Captain Northeote that he would be treated as a deserter. He was arrested on May 10 as a deserter, and lodged in the harness room at the barracks. He was subsequently taken to Dr MaoGibbon, who' let him out on condition that lie did not go near Dr Tliacker. Witness promised not to, but broke Ills promise, with the result tli&t lie was treated as a criminal while on parol*. On the Monday he was reported by Dr Blackmr.ro as fit to travel, and left for Wellington, that night under escort. Before departing Dr Mac Gibbon said to him. "lou are going to Y>e put out of the way altogether, and do not let me rr * ll "i au »* ,nore this Tliacker businoss. He lias been writing up to Headquarters jh AVellington and kicking up a dovil of a row. 1 ' Witness was in the 1 military ward in the Wellington Hospital for a fortnight, aud was then taken to camp and charged with drwertior., the charge being dismissed. Finally, lie was put. 011 leave, without pay, and for four or five months had been a charge upon friends and relatives. Witness was cross-examined at length by the Representative of the Defence Department, and Mr Acland, counsel ' for Dr Mac Gibbon.

Tn rebuttal, evidence was given that Furrows was .released from military detention in Christchurch on Dr MaeGibhon's orders, and was not insulted by Dr MacGibhon. The Piosident (to Dr Thackor, wlic had inquired of a witness if tlio detention eel! had' been the harness room). 7 give you fair warning that ] will close the inquiry if you go on with questions regarding the detention cell. You are doing nothing here but noting a piece of buffoonery, and you are riniply playing to the gallery. Dr MacOibbon deposod th:it he had never insulted Burrows or threatened him with solitary confinement. He may have told him not to visit Dr Thacker. which he was perfectly justified in doing. The Court adjourned till tlio folowing day.

OnmSTCHURCTI, Jan. 15. The inquiry into Dr vli;vrgos_ was conrluaded to-dny. J.'. J l '. AlcJvaniara, «. reservist. of Christ-church.. complained of tli<•- treatment accorded him V>y tlio. modjca} examiners. one of the members of which, ha alleged, inferred that ho was connected with !i person wiio lind seared •iimp for theft in the south. Tlu« allocation was denied liy Colonel Fitzgerald and Captain Lester JC.Z.Ar.O. The Court. tJion finnllv rose.