FIVE MORE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 281, 27 November 1941, Page 8

FIVE MORE

ARMY DEFAULTERS

ONE TERMED A "'HUMBUG"

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day,

"You are humbugging the Court. Get to a detention camp quickly," said Mr. McLachlan, S.M., to-day as he waved away from the Bench John Burns Crichton, solicitor. Crichton had pleaded not guilty to refusing to obey a lawful command to submit to medical examination.

Similar charges were preferred against Kenneth Edgar Adams, Raymond Leslie Adams, and Thomas Allen Adams, while Clifford Marsh was charged with refusing to draw clothing. All the offences took place at Burnham Camp. All the accused were sent to a defaulters' camp for the duration of the war.

Before the hearing of the charges Crichton applied for an adjournment to settle his private affairs. He said that on July 7 he was fined £50 and was sent to gaol for three months. On completion of the term he was taken into military custody and remanded for court martial. After being under close arrest £or 44 days, he was remanded to a civil Court.

"The men in Libya would like a few days to attend to their business,'' said the magistrate. "There is no provision for nail on this charge, and the question of leave from the detention camp is not in my hands." Crichton sought permission to approach the magistrate to show him some papers when the magistrate remarked: "You are humbugging the C6urt." Addressing Marsh, the magistrate said: "It is a pity to see a fine stamp of man like you going to a defaulters camp."