A SHIRKER SENT TO GAOL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9125, 22 October 1917, Page 5

A SHIRKER SENT TO GAOL.

PALMERSTON NOPvTH, Oct. -20

At 1 the Magistrate's Court this morning Thomas Carr, alia,? John Rock, was charged with changing his name without the consent of. the Minister of Internal Affairs,, and with assuming a name other than tlmfc ,ho was u^sua^y known by. . ,

The prosecution stated that the accused was a. reservist, and had ■ been drawn in the first ballot at Mastertou.. Bo had changed his name and h*id, boon eluding the police lor some. time.,. He was recently working near Huntyrville, and when he saw a. constahteap : : proaching he ran away. He . ; was chased, and when caught put up .a desperate resistance. Accused «aid to the-arresting constable:^ "I will nob. go toi the front" j also that ''■■'■'it he; was 'compelled.;to go he' would eitherVcbmrjiit ■sui.(;ide. or take .the life, of':'«ot^^>ne':.'elso'.'.,. ;1;; '„,''•■.'■■ \Vhit .; a^.e ' y,ou. " frightened/of '■? • \ ■ . • -Accused :■' I don't. wari.t to tight, and 1 don't see why. I should iiglif people who have done me no linrm. Magistrate:.. You are letting the other men fight for. yon. It is either selfishness or cowardice. If yaii are sensible you will go. Accused: I'll never go. I'm-, not afraid of the Germans. My mother and father could not live in. the country where they were born through the I British. j Magistrate,: You'll change your tune when you go into camp. Accused: I'll never change ni ; v tune.

Sergeant Henry asked for a .substantial penalty, as the ease was m serious one.

The accused was convicted, and sentenced to thr«j mon Ills' imprisonment, thereafter to he ha-nded over to the military authorities.