TERRIBLE TERRITORIALS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 58, 11 March 1915, Page 8

TERRIBLE TERRITORIALS.

ASSAULT OT-S A SENTRY.

Per Phess 'Association

Greymouth, March 10

1 Between 9 and 10 o'clock last night, [at Totara Flat camp, where the 13th 'Regiment is under canvas, trouble oc'curred in the vicinity of the guard tent, situated 100 v•" toiii the main cainj). Several territorials are reported to have interfered with a territorial named Neil Pearce, while on duty as sentry. Pearce was taken to the military hospital, suffering from the effects of a severe blow on the side oi the jaw, and was medically attended. The extent of his injuries was not known last night, but it was feared the lower jaw-bone had been fractured. 'Robert Gibbon, of A Company (Greymouth), was arrested and formally charged with assault by the military ithority and subsequently handed over to the civil authorities to deal with. Gibbons was brought to town this morning by Constable Brutoii, and was brought before the Greymouth S.M. Court this afternoon.

In reply to his Worship, Sergeant Egan said the offence had been committed at the territorial camp, but he could not say why the military authorities had not dealt with the case.

The Magistrate said that in his opinion the military authorities had no right to pass the charge on to the civil court.

Mr Joyce intimated that the defendant had been bundled out of the camp bag and baggage, and it appeared that whilst the authorities refused to deal with the charge on the one baud, defendant had been summarily dealt with on the other. Bail was fixed in two sureties of £2o each, and accused remanded till Monday next to allow of the injured man being present.