TRIAL OF CRAMPTON

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 125, 20 February 1919, Page 6

TRIAL OF CRAMPTON

THE COUNT-MARTIAL

FURTHER EVIDENCE

Br Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, February 19. At the Crampton court-martial, Private Thomas Moynahan gave evidence that while in the barracks on May 1 he was sentenced to pack drill. A uniform was given him which he refused to don, but it was forcibly put on, he being considerably knocked about. Crampton was not present. Witness complained to Crampton that he had been kicked over the heart. Witness was taken back to the celt, where tho uniform was again forcibly put on him. lie was oidered pack drill after church. Tho pack was put on forcibly, and witness was ordered to march. His head was bumped on the wall, and his back was punched. Crampton was then present. Witness wns ordered to march, but didnot. He was pushed around the yard for a few yards, and bumped into tho wall. Different officials" took turns about pushing him round ilia yard. Crampton asked witness if he would give in. Faulkner grabbed witness by the hair, and pulled him along the ground. Witness struck him. Tho men all got on to him and knocked him about, and Faulkner kicked liim while he, was on the ground. Crampton came'into the yard then and ordered the guards to carry on with witness. Crampton said: "Push his head t.'iromrh the wall." The guards did their "best to do so. Crampton took photographs and said to witnew: "T'll beat, you, Moynahan. I'm pig-headed like you\ are." Witness asked to be given one guard at a time, and he wouldn't care. "Ftis rifle was tied on to his left arm with string. It kept coming off. Faulkner bumped it against his face until the blood ran. The guards kept witnew for an hour. He was then ordered inside when he 6aid he would give in.

To Mr. Lotighnan: Witness was violently kicked on many occasions. After witness struck Faulkner the latter knocked him. down and kicked him; Witness \ras sore for weeks after tho experience, and wns black mid Hue on the back. He stood to be photographed, Faulkner holding the'rifle. Witness was examined by a doctor at tho barracks some time after, not next dav. He denied that he told the doctor that he had been kicked over the heart' the previohS day. After 48 hours in a padded cell, on bread and water, he was too weak to Ciirrv on. A doctor examined him. He denied that the barrel of the rifle was put through a shoulder strap and tieil to his wrist, at the commencement of the drill, and remained in that position throughout. Moynalm said lie was photographed standing with the rifle at ease. Mr. Loughnan handed witness two photographs showing Moynahan with the rifle at the slope, the barrel passing through the shoulder-strap. Witness maintained his story. .Donald ICerr I'orter, quartermaster at tho barracks, wliß was diffident on a previous occasion about giving evidence, was next called, and addressing the Court, witness said that he would again ask if he had to give evidence.. He wanted to know for his own. protection, as he. had been tackled.

Captain Hudson: You have nothing to fear. Witness: - Already returned soldiers have been sticking mo up and threatenin? me. and calling me a liar. The Judge-Advocate: If you i.re threatened it is your duty to bring the matter before the Court, and w'e will protect the witnesses. .

Witness: I am not a supporter of conscientious objectors. The. Judge-Advocate: Listen to what J. em saying. If yon bring the matter before us in a proper way we will protect you. ,

Witness: I have already done so in writing. The witness then went on with his evidence. Tie said that Moynahan, while doing pack drill, v.as punched by Parmenter and . kicked by Faulkner.

Dr. J. Anderson said that Moynahan complained of an injury to his chest about the, heart, but witness could find 110 trace* of it.

.Accused said that Moynahan was given pact drill for refusing to put on a- uniform. As he refused to march, witness ordered the guards to take 'urns in pushing him round the yar. Moynahan finaiiv agreed to carry out his drill. When Moynahan came to the barracks ho said no man would put a uniform 011 him, and make him drill, and he said lie was an Irishman, and that he would just as soon be under German-rulo as under the British flag.

Arthur George Faulkner, one of the staff at the. barracks, denied that Moynalia.n had refused to march, and had to ho pushed along. . He denied that be kicked Moynahan or grabbed him by the hair.

John Jenkins, another member, of the staff at the .barracks, denied that, Moynahan was either punched or kicked. '

Edward Byrne, also a member of the staff at the barracks, said that Moynahar. refused to march, and was compelled lo do so. Nobody hit or kicked Mo\i:ahan.

To Captain Hudson: lie was not present all the time.

The Court at this stage adjourned