A MILITARY DESERTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1917, Page 5

A MILITARY DESERTER.

BEFORE COURT-MARTIAL. !' By Telegraph.—-"Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. ' "rnw iV°n lirt " martial tO - da y. Wvate Gilbert Walker, a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, was arraigned on two charges of failing t 0 present himself for medical examination at Hamilton, on February S and May 4 respectively, and a charge of desertion, in that at Hamilton, on May 4, he absented himself, without leave, from the force, until he was apprehended by the civil police at Korakonui, on October 8. Evidence showed that Walker 1 was drawn in the third ballot, and notice! tl j , )M " E , ent P oß t and refused. H* had been hiding in the' bush for some months, through the winter. When ft party of four police approached accused threatened them with a rifle, savine'Stand back, or I'll shoot." After » 4m - J IC was disarmed and arrested. Ihe rifle was found to be unloaded, but accused stated that he had ammunition in a hiding place in the bush, in which direction he was proceeding when interrupted by the officer. Ha was in poor condition as a result of privations in the bush. For the defence, Mr. Napier contend. m the prosecution must fail,' because the charges, which were laid under,seetion 0 of the Army Act, were not set out m accordance with that section, and further, that command to attend medical examination was not a personal one, as required by the section. Mr. Denniston, in reply, urged the court to adjudicate, not on the exact wording, but on the intention, of the Act. Decision was reserved.