COURT MARTIAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1941, Page 2

COURT MARTIAL

« SERGEANTS ON TRIAL. ALLEGED ILLICIT USE OF DOCUMENTS. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. Before a general court-martial in Wellington on Saturday, two sergeants were charged with conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline. They were John Alexander McKane Wallace and Robert Albany Godtschalk. Wallace was charged with conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in illicitly giving Sergeant Godtschalk documents, so that the contents might be used for the private benefit of Major Vance. Godtschalk was charged with conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that, at the request of his commanding officer, Major Vance, he illicitly obtained from Sergeant J. A. McK. Wallace, of sick and wounded records, Central Military District, possession of the documents alluded to in other charges, and handed them to Major Vance so that their contents might be used for the private benefit of Major Vance. Wallace was acquitted. Lieutenant Macarthur said that Godtschalk felt the imputation in the charge most keenly, and he raised the question of an honourable acquittal. The judge-advocate. Major A. B. Sievwrgiht, said he would direct the Court’s attention to the rule concerning this. After tile Court had deliberated, it was announced that the matter would be referred to the officer convening the court-martial, Brigadier N. W. McD. Weir, for his consideration.