YOUTH ARRESTED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 27, 1 February 1945, Page 6

YOUTH ARRESTED

IN U.S. UNIFORM

BORSTAL FOR "DRIFTER ,,

Clad in an oversize coat and trousers, which had been loaned to him by the police, Robert Law (19), a truck driver, came before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., in the Police Court to-day to plead guilty to charges of being an idle and disorderly person with insufficient lawful means of support, and unlawfully wearing a United States uniform.

Detective-Sergeant Trethewey said Law was found on January 24 by United States provosts in Auckland wearing United States naval uniform and was taken to an American ♦amp as it was at first thought he was a deserter. Law had been posing as an American naval rating. He said he obtained the uniform from an American who had since left Auckland. When he was handed over to the police he stated that his intention was to go aboard an American vessel and leave Auckland. Since coming to Auckland from the South Island about the end of November he had done no woric. All he had on him when arrested was 4/. Law appeared, in the Magistrate's Court at Timaru on June 8 last on charges of being an idle and disorderly person and of theft and on one charge he was sentenced to one month's imprisonment.

"Jitterbug Expert"

"The Timaru police say Law belongs to Methven, where his father is a farmer," continued DetectiveSergeant Trethewey. "His people wont have any more to do with him. When the police asked his father if he would send a suit to accused he said Law had taken all his clothes with him when he left home. Previously Law posed as a stranded Canadian seaman and obtained money to go to dances in Timaru, where he was known as a 'jitterbug expert'." For accused, Mr. B. Elwarth, inasking that Law might be given another chance to become a useful citizen, pointed out that he had not been convicted of any serious offence.

"What you require is a period of discipline," the magistrate told Law. Law said he had been two years in the Army, but had been placed on leave without pay as he was under age. He expressed a wish to again enter the Army.

Mr. Levien told him he had been too long drifting, and that Borstal was the best place for him. There he would learn a trade if he wished.

Law was sent to Borstal for 18 months.