Officer

Court-martial of AIB Officer

Jap Evidence Against J. J. Murphy

THE court-martial of Captain John Joseph Murphy, of the AIB, and formerly a patrol officer in Man dated New Guinea, commenced at Lae in late January.

Murphy is accused of having given in formation to the enemy when he was captured in New Britain in October, 1943 after landing with a party from a sub marine. Three other members of the party were killed but Murphy was taken prisoner and was recovered in Rabaul when the Japanese surrendered.

Chief witness against Murphy, in Lae, was Captain F. Yoshishiko, of the Japan ese Forces, who stated that he com manded a naval unit at Gasmata at the time Murphy was ambushed and cap tured. He saw Murphy on October 5 and 6, and interrogated him. Murphy is alleged to have given the name of at least one member of his party, the information that a number of similar parties had landed in New Britain and that an Allied force would land in New Britain in October. (An Allied force did norland in New Britain until December, Murphy appeared at the court-martial wearing the 1930-45 and Pacific Star rib bons. He pleaded not guilty.

Only Japanese evidence was taken in Lae. The court-martial was then ad journed to a date and nlace yet to be fixed—probably in the vicinity of Sydnev