THE CROMPTON COURTMARTIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1919, Page 3

THE CROMPTON COURTMARTIAL.

YESTERDAY'S EVIDENCE. j By Telegraph.— Press Associ&tien. Wanganni, Feb. 13. At the Crampton court-martial this morning, accused was examined as to Ins record. He »;,' 1 lie had had charge of the detention barracks from March 22, 191S, to the present time. During that period 188 men and 25 casuals had passed through the barracks. In all cases he had passed men back fit for active service, and no complaints had ever been made against him -by any of these men through the ordinary chan- ■ uels. The case for the accused was then closed, and the prosecutor addressed the court, submitting the case was a straightforward one. There was only the unsupported evidence of the accused against it, and he submitted it was clearly proved. Mr Loughman, for the defence, said that he had taken considerable responsibility in closing his case when he had other witnesses who could attend. He had done this because there was not sufficient proof to convict Crampton. Counsel pointed out the contradictions in the evidence of Smith as against Porter. The latter stated that there were two serious assaults, while Wilson, though a prosecutor, said he was not ill-used till the pack was put on his back, and the other details of his evidence were rmtradicted by Porter. Wilson was a conscientious objector. Was there any conscientious objection to calling Crampton "Sir"? Wilson went I to the court to clear his character of the charges against him by a totally irresponsible tribunal, appointed " under goodness knows what authority, which took evidence which was not evidence, dealing with hearsay matters as if they were evidence and coming to a judgment on cases which were not sworn. Crampton was not given an opportunity to refute or contradict these statements and was placarded throughout the country as guilty of gross and violent treatment of the soldiers under his charge. Counsel concluded by asking for an honorable acquittal. Captain Baldwin, judge advocate, then addressed the court, pointing out that it had no official knowledge of the inquiry of Mr Hewitt, S.M. This had, however, been published and debated in the country, but must be absolutely eliminated from the court's mind, so as to prevent preconceived ideas from obtruding. The court reserved its decision and proceeded to hear the second charge of permitting unnecessary force to be used by his staff to compel Private H. Wilson to do pack drill. Wilson's evidence was similar to that on the first charge, the kernel of it being that ho was pushed and punched along to make him march, Crampton witnessing his staff doing' this. He ad- ] mitted that he would not have moved without this, and, was putting up pas- | sive resistance. He went to the barracks with the fixed determination to do no military duty. o Porter, in his evidence, said he saw the incident. It was not pack drill, but a case of knocking a man about. Crampton was "chasing round" giving orders. Blood was flying around. He saw Wilson bumped agamst the wall a dozen times. Mr. Loughnan: Wilson says he was never bumped into the wall. Witness: He may bo right. Mr. Loughnan: How could he be if you saw him bumped a dozen times. Witness: Wilson could be right. Witness suggested that Wilson should be brought in, as it was possible he might have mistaken him for someone else. Mr. Loughnan: Are you putting your oath against Wilson when he says lie was not pushed against the wall? Witness: Yes, I will. Counsel: Then Wilson is telling an untruth? Pressed to answer, witness replied: He must be. Wanganui, Last Night. On resumption of the court-martial, Crampton, recalled, said that since March, 1318, he had dealt with ISB detention men and 25 casuals, and had sent all back to camp fit for active service. The Court reserved its decision in this case. The second charge was that Crampton had allowed unnecessary force to be used on Private Harry Wilson to do pack drill. Wilson said that he was taken into the yard and a rifle put on his shoulder. He was- ordered to march, and was pushed and punched when he did not increase his pace. He refused to double because it was a military order. Donald Kerr Porter, formerly quartermaster at the barracks, said that Wilson was driven round the yard with a pack on and with Smith and another man on either side holding an arm, and accused was chasing round giving orders. Crampton's orders were to keep him going. There was a little blood flying about. It came from Wilson's face. In reply to a question, Porter said the blood might have been caused by a bump against the wall or by the rifle. He could not understand why Wilson now denied being bumped against the wall, and in cross-examination witness said he was not on very good terms with Crampton, who continually blackguarded him in the office. Accused gave evidence and denied that unnecessary force was used. Wilson was not bumped against the wall, nor was his face cut.