SENT TO GAOL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 209, 12 June 1940, Page 7

SENT TO GAOL.

A /DESERTING SOLDIER. SHOULD HAVE BEEN WITH 2nd ECHELON. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON. June 11. ■ “I -would like to be givfcn a chance to go overseas,” said Richard John Sowerby, who wore the uniform of the New Zealand Army as lie stood in the dock at the Supreme Court for sentence on a. charge of breaking, entering, and theft at Hawora ; also a breach of a probation, order made against, him in the name of Leslie Murray. Tlie request brought a sharp rebuke from the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) : . It made the case worse,-not better, lie told the prisoner, “because you had the opportunity to go and you deserted. You will have to be dealt with in the ordinary way unless -you can convince the defence authorities it is a proper thing for you to be sent overseas.”

In reply to Sir,Michael Myers, the Crown Prosecutor said the defence authorities were waiting until Sowerby had been dealt with by the Court before dealing with him for being absent without leave. He should have ' gone with the Second Echelon but did not go and was later arrested in a wardrobe

in a house at Hawera. .. • • On the charge of breaking, and entering and theft, the prisoner wassentenced to 18 months’ reformative detention and for the breach of the probation order, nine months, to be served concurrently.