A SOLDIER'S DISAPPEARANCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 191, 8 May 1919, Page 8

A SOLDIER'S DISAPPEARANCE

MILITARY INQUIRY CONTINUED. , The military court that is inquiring into the circumstances, of the disappearance from the ferry steamer Mararoa of 3r,865 Rifleman John Russell, N.Z.E.F., sat at the Wellington - Drill Hall yesterday. The court consists of Major']?. G. Hume, R.N.Z.A. (president), Major W. G. Ashworth, and Captain AW to, Bell. Mr. John Hutchison appeared on' behalf of the relatives of the deceased 6oldier. John Hutchison,.of BrooElyn, a cousin of deceased, gave evidence. He said that deceased returned from active service on Ootobor 8, and then informed witness that he had been given fourteen days' leave before proceeding to Hanmer Hospital. Russell stayed with Private M'lntyre in Wellington, and seemed in good heaith for the first nine days. • Then he appeared to develop hallucinations. He talked of # being followed. After looking after tho,niau for a day and'a night, witness tried to take him to the military hospital. But Russell van away. Later, witness tried to havo Russell placed in military confinement, but did not succeed. He was told that there was no place in which to confine him, owing to the influx of returning soldiers. Russell had talked about suicide. Russell was to lcavo for Hanmer <on October 22. Ho was still irrational and witness asked Captain Levy to provide an escort. This was arranged, and after some trouble witness and M'lntyre handed .deceased over to the escort on the steamer. But Russell got off the steamer nnd rejoined witness and M'lntyre after its departure. The next morning he disappeared and was not found until the morning of October 24. Witness then informed the military police, who arrested Russell, and. stated that he would be held in custody until placed aboard the steamer. Captain C. C. Brinsley, who, in October, was officer in charge of sick and wounded records for the Wellington Military District, also gave evidence. Ho said that on October 22 Hutchison asked that deceased should have an escort to Hanmer. It was a rule of tjie Department that an attendant should be provided if the relatives asked for it in such a case. On the morning of October 23 ho heard that Russell had left the boat before its departure from Welling, ton, and he then gave instructions that another attendant should be detailed retake tho miiu to Hanmer. Later, he heard that Russell had disappeared from the boat. The attendant informed witness subsequently that Russell had eluded him in tho lavatory of the ship bo-, tween i a.nOftnd 6' a.m., and had die-" appeared. Stephens at once reported the disappearance to the ship's* authorities, who made a thorough search without being able to find him. " ; To the court: Hutchison had appeared to bo satisfied with one attendant. Ruesell had been returned to New Zealand as suffering from trench fever, not shellThe court heard some supplementary evidence during the afternoon, The questions the court has to form an opinion on are: (1) Is it reasonable to suppose that the above-named soldier lost his life between Wellington and Lyttelton on the nisht of October 24-25, 1918? (•') Was the above-named-soldiers physical and mental condition such to necessitate a special escort being detailed to ensure his safetr on the voyage from Wellington to Lyttelton? (8) Was an aden'nate escort detailed?. (4) Did the escort, if one was detailed, discharge its duties efficiently? (5) Was any member of the N.Z.M.P. guilty of negligence or in any other way culpable in connection with the disappearauae of this soldier? The court will sit again to-day.