FINDING REVERSED

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2302, 14 July 1921, Page 1

FINDING REVERSED

THOMPSON-HOTOP CASE,

ACCUSATION MADE IN GOOD

FAITH.

The report of the Thoinpson-Ho-top Commission, conducted by Mr T. F. Martin, barrister-at-law, has been received by the Governor-Gen-eral. The Commission was set up to inquire into and report on the proceedings and judgment of a court-martial held at Feathers ton Camp on 27th September, 1917, which found Henry Harsant Thompson guilty of knowingly making a false statement affecting the character of an officer by stating that Captain F. R. Hotop, N.Z.M.C., was noticeably under the influence of alcoholic liquor when reporting on him at a medical board on Bth August, 1917. The Court sentenced Thompson to uudergo detention for 112 days.

The finding of the commission is, briefly, that there was no objection to the constitution of the Court ol* its personality, and no objection was made by Thompson; that the Courtmartial acted wrongly in throwing the onus of proving the good faith of his accusation upon Thompson; that Thompson made the accusation believing it to be true, and lie had grounds for Id's belief in the reputation of Captain Hotop in the camp, and therefore the finding of the Court must be reversed; that Captain Hotop was sober at tho Medical Board, and his reputation for insobriety was due to his manner; it was incredible that he should have been allowed to perform a larger number, of operations than any other medical officer if his condition had been that which Thompson's witnesses described. Had tlu; accused been properly convicted, the sentence would not have been excessive. Costs amounting to £35 12s are awarded to Thompson, and the Commission also expressed the opinion that he should be allowed his costs at the Court-martial, The costs ordered are to be paid at once by the Government, but the question of compensation, which was not submitted to the Commission, will be referred to a committee of Parliament for a recommendation in the usual way.