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Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 107, 1 November 1941, Page 6

BACK TO BORSTAL

YOUTH WHO ESCAPED

STRANGE ENTRY INTO ARMY

(P.A.) ' INVERCARGILD, This Day.

| The story of how a Borstal escapee joined the Army and was about to go i overseas when he was found by the i police was told before Mr. R. C. Abernethy, S.M., when Edward Clarke appeared on a charge of unlawfully escaping from the Invercargill Borstal Institution on March 25.

Clarke, it was stated, took a cycle as far as Brydone and then a car to Dunedin, where he ran out of petrol. He managed to get a lift to Cheviot and found work there. A constable saw he was a stranger and questioned him one day, as Clarke answered to the description of a military deserter, complete with tattoo marks. The constable challenged him with being this military deserter and Clarke admitted it. He was arrested and taken under escort to Wellington and Auckland.

When Clarke was taken to camp the officer there knew he was not the deserter and challenged him. Clarke admitted that he was not the man wanted for desertion. Apparently the Army authorities were then in a quandary what to do with Clarke, He was asked if he woVld like to join the Army and he jumped at the chance. He seemed to have been a good soldier.

The Magistrate said that they did not want criminals in camp.

The accused spoke up from the dock; and said the Army did'; not care whethet rnejii.-were criminals Or not;' they were there to fight.

The accused; was sentenced to 12; months' detention*- additional to the term he is already serving.