Read Online Death on a Pale Horse by Donald Thomas - Free Book Online Page B

decoration. One does not wear such a trinket at a formal mess dinner. You understand that, no doubt. They warned him twice, to no avail. The third time, his junior comrades constituted themselves a court-martial and tried him in the mess at three o’clock in the morning. They sentenced him to have the letter ‘S’ for ‘swank’ shaved on the top of his head. It was done then and there. Two or three of them sat on him and another did the shaving. The hair grew back in a few weeks and no harm done. But they took the bounce out of him and he turned into a decent enough fellow. I promise you, he learnt his lesson.”
    Jock leant forward.
    â€œBefore we came out from England, I heard of a man in the Brigade of Guards, no less. He was seen walking down the Strand in a boater that a fishmonger might wear, rather than a proper top hat. They tried him in the mess. Then they stripped him and made him run a circuit of the dinner room under the gauntlet of their belts. There were two other new officers, sprogs they call them in the guards. They refused to enter for the regimental sports. The same thing happened to them.”
    Perhaps it was no more than I expected, but there was more to come from Captain Sellon, though he sounded impatient to have the thing over with.
    â€œThese things exist because of defects in the legal system. You know, I presume, that an ordinary regimental court-martial is only empowered to try non-commissioned officers and other ranks. Its officers have to be dealt with in public at a general headquarters court. A trial like that makes a lot of noise and does no good to morale. Have you not been taught that—doctor?”
    â€œI can’t say I have been. Justice ought surely to be dispensed in open court.”
    He gave a short exasperated sigh.
    â€œTo be sure. As it is in England. Out here, any public trial may smear the regiment in the eyes of our own people and the Indians as well. Let me show you. A crime need not be great in order to bring disgrace. Sometimes it is only military incompetence or perhaps insubordination. Of course it may be something more serious. A young officer as mess treasurer may embezzle part of the funds. Even worse, it might be some kind of offence against a woman. Imagine what the story would do to that woman if it were spread all over the native newspapers! Oh yes, doctor—there is a press for the Pandies out here as well as our own. The troublemakers know how to use it. Well, then, say a young man has gone wrong but simply needs a sharp lesson. A subalterns’ court-martial, junior officers who are his equals, administers that lesson to him in private. It is irregular, but it is found to be useful.”
    â€œI have never heard of such a thing before,” I said. I did not add that the more I heard of it, the less I liked it.
    â€œDid they teach you so little of Army life at Aldershot?” Sellon inquired.
    He was quite right. No one at Netley Hospital had thought it necessary to inform me of these military curiosities during my medical training. He still looked at me for all the world as though I might have been an impostor in uniform. Who was he? He seemed remarkably well informed about military law.
    â€œHow long have you been in the Army, sir—or in India at least?” he inquired laconically. “Not very long, I think!”
    I protested at this.
    â€œA trial of whatever kind must be a matter for judicial authority. There must be proper rules, a report, and an appeal procedure.”
    Sellon continued more slowly, as if determined that I should understand every word.
    â€œThese trials are not reported. They are not officially spoken of. Any commanding officer will know when one is taking place. The rumour mill sees to that. Sometimes he may even be called to give evidence. But he has no official knowledge of its proceedings, its verdict, or its sentence.”
    â€œAnd that is what you call mess jackets at