| Notes: | MFP. Statement found in Court Martial Documents of 29918 Cpl Arthur Russell, 3 Reserve Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. 1st Witness for the Prosecution. No. 4244 Cpl. W Adams, Military Foot Police being called states: At Broad Water Forest about 21.35 on 17th December 1918 in company with L/Cpl Belcher and L/Cpl Johnson, MFP in accordance with instructions received, I visited the Broad Water Forest Magazine Guardroom, Tunbridge Wells. Not being challenged by the sentry i entered the Guardroom and there I saw the accused, No. 29916 Cpl A Russel, whom I now identify and who was commander of the Guard, and four private soldiers, also a female lying in bed. I asked the accused why he had not a sentry on duty and he replied "I am just changing the guard". I then asked the young female to get out of bed and I noticed that she hand her boots off. I took her particulars and on asking her how long she had been in the Guard Room she replies "Since one o'clock the accused admitted this statement. She also said that she had been accustomed to visit the Guard Room on several occasions as she had been supplied with food there. I ordered her to leave the Guard Room and return home. I asked the accused why the female was doing in the Guard Room and he aid that the woman was hungry and had been crying, so he took pity on her, gave her food and allowed her to sit by the fire. The accused was improperly dressed, in that he was deficient his tunic. I placed the accused under arrest and later handed him over to Sgt. W J Carroll "B" Company, 3 Royal Warwickshire Regiment. |
