Edward Pilon  April 20, 1883 - July 5, 1916

Court Martial May 16, 1916, In-the-Field

Trial of No.1467 Pte. E. Pilon 8^th Canadian Infantry Battalion

1^st Witness No.3205 Sgt. J. Adams, 11^th Service Battalion K.R.R. being sworn states :

Ont the 6^th April I was on duty in the Rue de Croix, Notre Dame at about 7:30 pm. when I saw the accused soldier. He was drunk. I placed him under arrest and sent him under escort to the Town Hall Guard where he was detained.

Cross Examined by Accused.

Q: Do you remember my saying to you when you arrested me "I am going to my billet and making no trouble. Let me go."
A: No. I do not.

2^nd Witness. No.3551 Cpl. G.M. Jarvis. 1^st Life Guards, being sworn states:

At 7:45 pm. on April 6^th I was in charge of the Town Hall Guard, when the accused was brought in under escort, charged with being drunk by Sergt J. Adams. I accepted him on that charge as he was drunk.

3^rd Withness. No.3415 Trooper G. Cave, 1^st Life Guards, being sworn, states:

At about 7:45 April 6^th, I was acting corporal on road control. The accused and escort were handed over to me by Sergt. Adams. I conducted him to the town hall and handed him over to Corporal Jervis. He was drunk.

Prosecution closed

1^St Witness. No.A38032  Pte MacIvor, 8^th Canadian Infantry Battalion,being sworn states:

At about 7:30 pm on April 6^th I was returning to my billet in company with the accused who was talking rather loudly when an N.C.O. came up and caught him by the arm. Accused told the N.C.O. that he was going home and making no trouble. The N.C.O. then said "fall in two men" and place accused under arrest.

Cross examined by Prosecutor.

Q: Had accused been drinking?
A: Yes, we had been together since 6 pm.
Q: Was accused doing most of the talking on the way home?
A: Yes.

Examined by Accused.

Q: Was I drunk or sober?
A: Sober

2^nd Witness. No.1489 Pte. H.C. Willson 8^th Battalion being sworn states:

About 7:30 p.m. on 6^th April I was walking back to my billet in company with the accused who was talking rather loudly, when somebody in uniform but of what rank I do not know, stopped the accused and calling up two men placed him under arrrest.

Examined by accused.

Q: Did I tell the man who arrested me that I did not want to make any trouble and to let me go.
A: Yes you did.
Q: Did you personally speak to the man who arrested me and ask him to let me go, and did he tell you that if you didn't clear out he would arrest you too.
A: He told me to cleat out.
Q: Was I drunk or sober.
A: You were sober.

Cross examined by Prosecutor

Q: Had accused been drinking?
A: He had only one drink to my knowledge.
Q: Were you with accused all the evening?
A: I was away from him about half an hour during the evening.

The Accused No. 1467 Pte. E. Pilon being sworn states:

At about 7:30 pm I was returning to my billets with two of my friends, Ptes. MacIvor and Wilson. We were joking and I was talking rather loudly when a sergeant came up to me and arrested me for being drunk. I told him I was sober and wanted to make no trouble as I had to be back at my billets before 8 o'clock. He would not listen to me but had me escorted to the Guard Room.

Defence Closed

He further proceeds to give evidence as to character and states:

The accused is a very good soldier and has been doing his duty exceptionally well lately. He has had no entry for drunkeness since 8-4-1915. He has been with the battalion continuously since coming to France except for one leave.

K.C. Bedson, Maj. 8^th Can Infantry Battalion
Presiding Officer

Pleaded not guilty
Found guilty
Sentenced to 42 days F.P. No.1
 

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