MILITARY OFFICER IN COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 17 July 1915, Page 6

MILITARY OFFICER IN COURT

FRESH CHARGES AGAINST ; CAPT. HENDERSON V . A WITNESS IN TROUBLE (By Telegraph.—Press Association,) Dunedin, July 16. r liireo fresh charges wer© preferred in tho Police Court this morning against Captain John Robert Henderson, Adjutant of the 14th (South Otago) He-1 giment, who came back from duty abroad to answer those and other charges. The sum involved in tho counts heard to-day /Vi s Cr^lo Crown Prosecutor (Mr. u . C. Macgregor) appeared to prosecute, and Mr; Hanlon represented defendant. The first charge was that oil June 10, 1912 ; at Milton, ho did steal £95 55., portion of a sum 1 of £1293 9s. 6d. paid him on behalf of the New Zealand Government for tho payment of officers and men of the South Otago Regiment during the camp at Milton. The case for the prosecution was that accused received a cheque for £1292 9s. Gd. for camp pay. It then became accused's'duty to pay the men. Ho did pay tho men, hut . had £95 os. too much in hand. 1-Ie then wanted a cheque for mess allowance, and asked the account-ant-in Dunedin to deduct tlu amount of £95 os. A cheque was sent for £148 os., which was accounted for by a voucher, "hut no account had been made for tho £95 OS.

_ When accused arrived back -in Wellington and was asked about the business ho gave a false explanation. Chief Detectivo Herbert said that when asked in Wellington for ail explanation accused said, "This matter is a puzzle to me at present, ■ andwithout search and more' information I cannot explain £14 17s. of tliis amount, though I am - sure there is an explanation of it. In regard ito £50 Bs. of this amount, which should have been paid to individual officers for messing, this was paid by me to Hoggans for messing at Milton camp. With all inexperienced officers, we got into considerable chaos, and I had also to run 13 cadet companies during that camp. We started with a \ muddle and ended in a muddle owing to 'having to change our site through dry weather causing a scarcity of water. On the last day of the camp M'Clymont, Hoggans, and myself were all paying accounts, and I was at least £100 to the had afterwards, having paid tliat sum . that I never had received.

Mr. Hanlon: Accused says that what ha said-was not that M'Clymont, Hoggans. and 'he were paying out, .but that Mitchell, M'Clymont, and he " were doiug so. Evidence was given by Douglas Hunter, accountant in the Defence Office, John B. M'Clymont, and Lieutenant Hoggans. At one stage the last-named contradicted (One of the statements taken down, in writing and denied that he had ever said it. • ■

.Mr. Bartholomew, S.M.; I tell you you niado ihe statement. Witness Let mo see the statement. The Magistrate:- Why aro you going on as you are? Is : there any reason why your memory is not good? Do you know what you are saying ? Witness: Yes, sir, I want to see that evidence'. ' '

Tho Magistrate: Do not adopt that tone in tliis Court. Your condition and conduct have proved an obstruction to the Court. It means that the. present proceedings cannot be gone on with now.'' You'will, hhve to' come back to Court with a proper apology. I then will decide what course I shall adopt. In the meantime stand down.

The Magistrate intimated that he had other business waiting attention in the afternoon and this and _ two other charges were adjourned until Monday.