A STRANGE AFFAIR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3341, 20 November 1919, Page 6

A STRANGE AFFAIR.

CORPORAL D’ORIDAN'f"S CONV VICTION. ‘ DEFENCE DEPARTMENT i ‘ WITHDRAWS. - During December of last year Corporal W. A, D’Ori(lan‘t, of the New Zealand Military Police, was" tried by C0111't~111a1"ci'a1 in“ VVellingtoll on 3. charge of “knowingly made a false ac.cusa.tion” against Capt. Chas. Gray, Assistant-Provost Marshal for the Wellington district. The accusation was’ that Captain Gray had been drunk on August" 1, 1918, while on duty. The corporal was found guilty, sentenced

to 28 days’ (ICI3eIIEIOII, zulu Lusuusscu from the forces in disgrace. He has now been, reinsta'ted, granted an honoura§ble' discharge,» and given a year’s pay by the Defence Department. He has received a promise that the record of his conviction shall be expungefl from his personal file. The case, which attracted attention at the ‘time, has remarkable features. Corporal D’Oridant, who is 50 years of age, was engaged as a fisherman in Oa.ma.ru early in 1918, when the Defence Vauthorities required a motor launch for patrol work in Wellington Harbour.‘ He owned a launch. The Defence authorities hired the boat and

employed -the owner as master. D’Oridant. was attested for Home service, and given the rank of eo.rporal_ Cap; tain Gray was Assistant Provos’EMarshal for Weinngton, and.‘ his duties included the patrolling of *the harbour. He Went‘ Hut 011 the launch with D’Ol‘i<l:lnt on the night of Augusf 1, and in consequence of certain incidents -the cuorpoiul ;\ellal'ged the captain with drunl«:enxiess. A few days later D’Oridant was air-.'es‘re<l and consigned to a barracks atllount Cook TB(arre.c.ks-. ‘- When the eoul't.-martial hat in September Captain Gray was the most. important witness. . The president of the court was Lient.-Colonel R. Neave, who had with him Major E. V. Bevan and Major A. H. Hollis, New Ze.ala.n_d Glarrision Artillery. Captain Gray denied that he had rtaken any liquor at all on the day in question. He admitted that‘ Corporal

'.|3’Oridant had -‘been. p-1-aced under close arrest on August.‘ 10, and held‘ at a. cell in -Mount Cook Barracks for 17 days without being allowed to see a lawyer. The prisoner‘ was not allowed to see his wife for the firs’: ten days. He was confined in a. bare sell without furniture. He had ‘to sit on the bare floor and frequently priV‘.El'tO soldiers charged‘ with drunkenness Were locked lip with him. He made application to see his Wife and a solicitor. Captain Gray stated in evidence that he sentjthe application on to 'Cap'ta.in Hill, Assistant Provost Mfarshal navtr Defence ‘Headquarters. Captain Hill refused permission, and said “-there would be plenty of time. I later.” { The court-martial found D’Oridant'

iguilty, and sentenced him vfo 28 [days’ detention. The corporal had been in detention for more: than 28 days‘ already, and under niilitary law his period of detention should have dated from his al'ra.st, but he was, held for another four weeks, most of.‘ the time in the cell at Mount Cook’ Barrack.s, befofe he ‘was released and discharged from the forces. During that ime, although he was a non-co~m-misssioned Afofiicer, privaftee sdldiers were againlplaced in the -same cell. Since his release C‘orpo~lia.]. D’Oridant has pressed for a re—he:lring of his case. The hearing h:a~ snot been gl'an'ted, but the Defence Deplartnient has now agreed: "(1) To remove the conviction from] his personal file; ; (2) To grant him -an honourable discharge dating from August 6,1919 ("the ‘date of ordinary, doniobilisaxi

tion); and to hand him arrears of pay‘ amounting"to £196, covering the period of his _dismissal to the date of‘

the new }-Lischarge. I Captain Gray left the service of the Defence Department las year, and is stated to be out of New Zealand at the present time. _ Mr A. H. L. Treadwell, who has lrepretsented Cafitain }D’OI-idlant in I connection with this aifair, declined yesterday to make lany statement on Q the subject. Corppral D’Oridallt him— ? self confirmed. ithe statenlesn.ts made } above. 3