RESERVISTS JAILED

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 8, 4 October 1941, Page 7

RESERVISTS JAILED

Failure To Report For Duty A number of military reservists were charged before Jlr. Luxford, SAI., in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, with failing to report for duty when ordered to do so and, being convicted, were sent to prison. Several charges of failing to enrol also were preferred. Ronald James Prank Armstrong, who pleaded guilty to failing to report for duty and said he had conscientious objection to takfng part in war, was sentenced to a month’s jail. John Charles Bayly pleaded mot guilty to the same charge, saying that he did so because the law allowed a person called up to have his conscientious objection to service recognized, but he considered the Armed Forces Appeal Board had made a mistake in his case. He was sentenced to a mouth’s imprisonment.

A'athaa Sidnev Beatus, who pleaded guilty to failing to report and whom Sub-inspector 11. IL Lambert said had lodged an appeal on the ground of conscientious objection, the appeal being dismissed with a recommendation that he be given non-combatant service, was seut to prison j'or a month. Another conscientious objector, Francis Patterson Bell, who pleaded guilty to not reporting for duty, was also sentenced to a month's imprisonment. When John Cameron, whose appeal on couscientious grounds had -been dismissed, was charged with not reporting for duty he declined to plead and said he had (been ordered to report for posting to an infantry regiment, though he had made it clear’ to the military authorities that he was prepared to join only a medical corps. Answering the magistrate, he said he was not prepared to report unless he had a guarantee that he would be in the medical corps. Tbe magistrate.: Wars would not be won if recruits were able to demand guarantees. 1 must treat your case like the others, lou will be sentenced to one month's imprisonment. Defendant: Well, that is the end ot the Army for me. Charles James Snow pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to report and claim- : ed that he had not been notified that be I was to report. A representative of the Army Department said defendant had ; caused trouble bv shifting about and not i notifying them of his changes of address. Defendant said lie had been in camp at 1 Wlmngarei. After he was in camp 14 I days it was realized he had been called j up for overseas service aud he was sent ■ away and told to wait till he was called up again. ’The magistrate adjourned the case on condition that defendant report immediately. George Alexander Heatherwick was lined if for failing to enrol and Harold James Heatherwick was sentenced to five weeks’ imprisonment on the same charge. The magistrate said he refrained from imprisoning the former because of a manifest physical disability. Mr. AV. D. Goodwin, who appeared for both, said they were brothers, but there was uo question of family disloyalty. Two other brothers were in the forces. On a similar charge Charles August I Johansson, who was represented by Mr. | A. Free, was sentenced to a month's im- ; prisonrnent. , An Irish national, John Joseph Fahey, appeared before Mr. Goulding, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, I’etone, yesterday, charged with failing to report for military duty. The case was adjourned for 14 days to enable counsel to ascertain the fads and for the magistrate to find out what decision had been arrived at in dealing with similar cases.