COURT OF INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 95, 15 January 1918, Page 6

COURT OF INQUIRY

CHARGES AGAINST MILITARY MEDICAL BOARDS

BUGLER BURROWS GIVES

EVIDENCE

By Telegraph-Press Association. Cliristchurch, January 14. The Court of Inquiry convened to investigate charges made by Dr. Thacker and others legarding the onduct of members of Military Medical Boards which have done duty in the Canterbury district was continued to-day, Major Loach presiding. When the case of Bugler William Horace Burrows was called on, Dr. Thacker produced a certificate saying be was too ill to attend. The Court conferred and decided that the medical memb?rr of the Court should examine Burrows. After an )idjournmeut the oflicers reported that Burrows had sufficiently recovered to attond tho court or to give evidence at his home, and the Court adjourned to tho man's home. Statement by Bugler Burrows. In a statement on oath Burrows said he enlisted voluntarily and went into camp with the Twenty-fourth Reinforcements on January 5 last year. On January 25 he was granted five days' sick leave, and on the last day of the leave he went to Lieutenant-Culonel M'Gibbon, Assistant Director of Modican Services, Canterbury, who said, "Oh, what's the matter with you? Have you got a tried fii ?" Witness told him that he was going back to camp that night, but wanted him to examine his chest. Colonel M'Gibbon did so, and gave him four extra days' leave. At its expiration witness consulted Dr. Thacker, who examined him. Witnp-s was told that his left side had suffered from. pleurisy in the past, and he was threatened with n <mdden breakdown and an attack of phthisis. Dr. Thacker gave him a certificate for Surgeon-General Henderson, who said he should not have been passed, and gave him a letter for the Commandant at Awapuni Camp, recommending his immediate discharge.

Taken 111 in Gamp. Witness went before the Medical Board, but no action was taken. IJo was again taken ill in camp, and was told to report to Colonel Fyffe for treatment. On reaching AVellington he communicated with Colonel Fyffe, who said he had no word from Awapuni ibout witness aid could not see him that day, as he was off duty. Being almost nenniless, wit-ness accepted a loan from a stranger and came on to Cbriptchurch, arriving on Sunday, March 11. On the next day he saw Dr. Thacker and reported to Headquarters, being told by Captain Northcote that be would be treated as a deserter. Arrested as a Deserter. He was arrested on May 10 as a deserter and lodged in the harness-room ot the barracks, being subsequently taken to Colonel M'Gibbon who let him out on condition that he did not

go near Dr. Thacker. Witness promised not,to, but broke his promise, with the result that ho was treated as a criminal. While on parole on the Monday he \va3 reported by Dr. Blackmore as (it k> travel, and left for Wellington that night under escort. Before departing 'Colonel M'Gibbon said to him, "You are going to be put out of the Army altogether, and do not let me hear any more of Hits Thacker business. He has 'oeen writing up to Headquarters in AVellington and kicking up a devil of a row." Charged with Desertion. Witness was in the Military Ward of the Wellington Hospital for a fortnight and then was taken to camp i.-;d charged with desertion, the charge being dismissed. Finally ho was put on leave without pay, and for four or five months lie had been a charge upon his friends and relatives.

Witness was cross-examined at length by a representative of the Defence Department and by Mr. Acland, counsel for Colonel M'Gibbon.

In rebuttal, evidence was given that Burrows was released from military detention iu Christchiirch on Colonel M'Gibbon's orders, and was not insulted by Coionel M'Gibbon. Warning to Dr. Tiiacker. The president (to Dr. Thacker, who had inquirdd of a witness if the detention cell had been a harness-room): I give you fair warning that 1 will close the inquiry if you go on with r/uostions regarding the detention cell. You are doing not'iing here but acting a piece of buffoonery, and you arc simply playing to the gallery. Lieutenant-Colonel M'Gibbon deposed that he had never insulted Burrows or threatened him with solitary confinement. He might have told tim not to visit Dr. Thacker. wliich he was perfectly justified in doing., The Court .-"djourned till to-morrow.