ALLEGED FALSE STATEMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1918, Page 5

ALLEGED FALSE STATEMENTS

■» . BY CORPORAL AGAINST CAPTAIN. By Telegraph.— Press Association. Wellington, Sept. 81. Corporal William Arthur .I'Oridant, of the Military Police, is being tried at Buckie Street Barracks on .1 charge of having made a false accusation against his superior officer, knowing the accusation to be false. It is alleged that accused told four members of the forces on the ni"ht of August 1 last that Captain Charles' Gray, Assistant Provost-Marshal in Wellington, had been drunk while in execution of his duty. Accused pleaded not guilty. Quartermaster Moore stated that on the evening of the date mentioned ho was present ii> the room when accused received orders iby lelephono from Captain Gray in reference to the despatch of a patrol boat. Immediately afterwards accused said he "could nearlysmell it over the wires." When accused retumed later with the launch, he told witness his impression that Captain Gray was "full" had been correct. A number of witnesses were called, and stated that they had been with Captain Gray on the night mentioned, and noticed nothing to suggest that he had been drinking. They stated that Captain Gray had steered the launch in rough water in a seaman-like mannerCaptain Gray was examined at considerable length. Ho stated he had no alcoholic liquor during the day_ On August 1 he took a launch on a patrol journey, and when getting off the launch slipped, and was steadied 'by d'Oridant- Ho took the corporal to the guardroom and had some conversation with him regarding hip hours of duty on the previous day When he got home he found he had lost a minutesheet given him by Captain Hill. The sheet was left on the table without an envelope, and could have been read by anybody. He rang up the guardroom, and had tho paper sent to him. The minute referred to the delay in getting a crew on the night of August 1. Witness was instructed by Captain Hill to dismiss d'Oridant, and sent (lie corporal a letter accordingly on August 2. Witness sent for d'Oridant on August, 15, and asked if he had any charge to make. The corporal replied: "None whatever." The hearing will be continued to-mor-row.