H.—l9b

40

Captain Knyvett: It is only backing it up. If I may be allowed to show the Court, and you then rule it out of order, I will accept that. The President: The Court will only allow you to call evidence to exonerate yourself, and not with a desire to bring any one else into trouble. Captain Knyvett: I want to show how the want of tact and interference on the part of the Chief of the General Staff brought this about. The President: We do not want you to show it. Captain Knyvett: What do you want me to show ? The President: You make charges against your superior officer : the position is that you make these charges in a letter to a superior authority. You may write asking for redress, but any statement you make in that letter you are responsible for, and unless they are distinctly made bona fide to obtain redress of the grievances you had, they are not privileged. Captain Knyvett: The Court did not say whether Colonel Robin can give evidence. lam only asking. The President: I only say with reference to your claim, and I will not hear long rigmaroles about interviews. You wrote a letter asking for the redress of grievances. Exception is taken to statements made by you. In all these accusations Captain Knyvett: They are not accusations, sir. The President: I will not have any more of this quibbling. We are Captain Knyvett: Do I understand that the Court does not want the truth? The President: We are not going to try the other case. We are trying yours. You admit the letter. Exception has been taken to the charges in your letter, which any military man knows may or may not be made. Having admitted the letter you*have got to show that you were justified in making these statements, in so far as that you honestly believed them to be true when you wrote them, and that they were written only with the intention of getting redress and nothing beyond that. Captain Knyvett: The question before the Court is the witnesses I propose to bring. The first witness I want to call is Colonel Robin. The President: We are prepared to call witnesses whom you can show can give relevant evidence. You must show the Court that they can give relevant evidence. Captain Knyvett: That is what I wish to show, but you will not hear me. One article distinctly contradictory to the other, and the statements made are absolutely untrue. I consider that is " want of tact." The President: But we are not trying want of tact. Captain Knyvett: You are trying me for saying it. The President: You can put that in in evidence—that you had reason to that this charge was right, and that it was relevant to your claim to exonerate yourself. That is as good evidence as Colonel Robin's would be. Captain Knyvett: I only wish to ask him questions which are totally relevant. The President: Can you show the Court how Colonel Robin can inform them whether you believed those charges to be true, or whether you believed that those charges that you make are relevant to your claim for redress? ~ Captain Knyvett: Yes, sir, by the different articles under his own name, and by omcial documents written in connection with those articles. I have served the notice, which will show that. At this stage Lieutenant Pullen handed Captain Knyvett a note. The President: Hand me that. Captain Knyvett handed the note over. The President: Clear the Court. The Court was cleared, and after a minute or two's deliberation, the Court was opened again. The President (to Lieutenant Pullen): What is your name? Lieutenant Pullen: Pullen. The President: Are you a lieutenant? Lieutenant Pullen: Yes. The President: We distinctly pointed out at the commencement when you were allowed to sit at the table that you were only allowed there on the understanding that you were not the prisoner's friend, and that you were not to make suggestions. Now, you have handed him a suggestion which the Court holds is contempt of Court. The Court has decided to exclude you from the room. . , , , „ Lieutenant Pullen: Have I not the right of the general public to sit at the back I The President: You are excluded from the room. Lieutenant Pullen: If I take my uniform off and appear in mufti, may I sit at the back ! The President: You are excluded from the room. Lieutenant Pullen: Then I have not the right of an ordinary British subject. The President: Leave the room. _ . Lieutenant Pullen then left the room, and the President gave instruction to the orderly not to admit him again. While the President was thus engaged with the orderly Lieutenant (xreenhough spoke to Captain Knyvett. ~,,-,, 3 j * The President ! (to Lieutenant Greenhough) _: The next thing will be that you are ordered to leave the room. I hope this will be the last of this. '••'',, -, ',- *. ±1, +1, Lieutenant Greenhough was then ordered away from his table, and took his seat by the reporters. The President: Are these the witnesses you forwarded, then! __ Captain Knyvett: Do I understand that the Court has given its decision about this other officer I have mentioned as a witness 1