AN OFFICER'S DISGRACE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 3 August 1917, Page 1

AN OFFICER'S DISGRACE.

The Liverpool recruiting .scandal trial finished at, Liverpool Assizes, on April 27, when Captain 11. W. Wilson, formerlychief substitution officer, and John Hughes, owner of 50 grocers' shops, were found guilty of conspiring to defeat the-Military Service Acts. Httghes was also found guilty of corruptly giving Wilsou £875, and Wilson of accepting the money. Addressing Mr Justice Bailhache, Wifson said he desired to express publicly hU great sorrow for all the things he bad failed m regarding his duty, and for t;»~ things he had done wrongly. That da>' be »st his commission after "holding it ft .- IT.jeara; but, though no longer an ofiicei ho. remained a soldier, and lie intended to apply to the Army Council for permission to serve abroad. He hoped His Lordehip wonld endorse hia application.

Mr Justice Baiihache said it was difficult for him to express the grief ii e felt at seeing a juan of Wilson's undoubted abilities in such a position. His offence was a serous one. and the sentence would be one year and nine months' imprisonment. - Hughes said he was absolutely innocent bat the Judge remarked that his case in some respects was the worst of all and, in addition to 12 months* imprisonment, ordered him to pay £2OO towards the costs. Mendel Fishel, Francis S. Baruett, and Ernest E. Barnett, who had previously been found guilty, were sentenced— J-'ishel and Francis Barnett to nine months vach, and Ernest Barnett to 12 months, J lis Lordship holding that the last-named was one of the prime movers in tho bribery offences.