TRIAL BY COURTMARTIAL

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 66, 10 December 1921, Page 7

TRIAL BY COURTMARTIAL

FRENCH INSTANCES OF MANIFEST INJUSTICE

A TYPICAL CASE

By Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyrlgbi (Rec. December 9, 8.30 p.m.)

Paris, December 9.

The sentences' of French courts-martial are occupying public attention. A number of cases have been disclosed in which there ha? been manifest injustice. The following is a typical case: — Last week the body of Alphonse Mallet was disinterred at Auberie, proving that he died in, 1915 fighting Hires Germans, whose bodies were buried with Mallet. Nevertheless he was sentenced to death, in October, 1915, on a charge of desertion in front of the enemy, because- lie could not be' found. . The verdict was /posted up in his village, where the villagers beat' his wife and children and compelled them to flee from their home. The wife died of grief, still proclaiming her belief in her husband’s innocence. The children have been insulted daily at school and boycotted until the dramatic discovery of their father's body cleared their honour.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. i ■ AMERICAN INVESTIGATION SOLDIERS SAID TO HAVE BEEN HANGED WITHOUT TRIAL. (Rec. December 9, 8.30 p.m.) Washinnton, December 8.

Colonel Bethel, Assistant-Advocate-Gen-eral, testifying ■ before the committee which is-investigating Senator Watson’s ■ charges that American soldiers were hanged trial in France, stated that only elevon soldiers were hanged for’ atrocious crimes after adequate and just trial. Senator’Watson toad affidavits from exservicemen who sow soldiers hanged Without trial and. sbot. and bayoneted by officers;.- —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.