THE CRAMPTON COURTMARTIAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1933, 30 January 1919, Page 3

THE CRAMPTON COURTMARTIAL.

MR, HOLLAND’S APPLICATION,

AVaitgauui, Jan. 29. The court-martial upon Lieutenant J. AY. Crauipfon was opened this morning. Lieutenant Crumpton was represented at- this morning’s hearing by Mr N. G. Armstrong, acting for Mr Loiighmm, of Palmerston North. Mr Holland. M.P., applied for permission to assist the prosecutor, on the ground that he was the instigator of the proceedings. He contended ilial the tirst charge was made by him at Reeflon, in May last, and he had, on various occasions since, demanded a court-mar-tial.

Mr Armstrong strongly opposed the application, contending that an instigator should he something more than the writer of newspaper correspondence or of a demand for trial. The institutor of the proceedings was Lieutenant Cranipton himself.

The prosecutor, Captain F. Hud-

son, pointed mil that it was a question of ('(inferring with, and not of assisting Ihe prosecutor. He failed to see how he could he assisted very much by Mr Holland, Iml lie had no real objection to Hie latter sitting with him. The Judge Advocate (Captain Baldwin) Hu* opinion that before a civilian could si! with Hie prosecutor he would have to ho able to give mat (‘rial assistance. The Court ruled that Mr Holland was not entitled lo sit.

Mr Armstrong applied for an adjournment, saying that Lien tenant (.Tampion received notice of Hm proceedings a week ago, ami decided (o engage Mr Loughimn, of Palmerston North, hut Hie latter was absent. He only got into touch with him on Monday last, and since then had had no lime to prepare his ease. One of Lieutenant Crampton’s most important witnesses, Sergeant Sinith, was ill in the hospital at Hawera, and would not be available for about ten days.

The Court adjourned (ill February 12Hi, at Wanganui.