RESERVIST UNAWARES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16671, 16 October 1917, Page 5

RESERVIST UNAWARES.

•■ ■ ■ ♦ SAID HE DID NOT ENROL CHARGE OF MISLEADING THE POLICE. 9 How a man, Samuel Weir Batten, lost i position lie had held for 12 years, and hon he came to be charged that being a reser vist be answered a constable's question! in a wilfully fake and misleading manner, was related to Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. Constable Neal said he called at defen dant's house with Constable Marlow and asked if defendant had a certificate of enrolment. Defendant said he had not en' rolled, and when asked if he knew thai it was necessary to enrol he said he be lieved in Christ and that was his reason for not enrolling. He produced a birth ' certificate showing he was 45 years of age. Sub-Inspector Broberg said he alleged that defendant had answered the question; . falsely by saying he had not 'enrolled, ' whereas it was found he had enrolled. Dej fendant had also told another constable that he had not enrolled because it was ! against his religious convictions. It seemed as if he wanted to give the police as much trouble' as possible.. ' Defendant said he filled in the National ' Register papers and against the question I "Are you willing to serve" he wrote " No." He did not think that was enrolling, and when the constable interviewed him he honestly believed he had ' not enrolled. He had no certificate oi ' enrolment, and had thought that to enrol : meant to express willingness to serve, i After the magistrate had explained the . meaning of the word "enrol," defendani said he had been dismissed from his emEloyment after 12 years' service because e said he had not enrolled. Defendant: I took up this attitude be I I cause I believe in Christ. I 1 The Sub-Inspector: . Others do that it the trenches. Defendant: Well, that is my attitude. 1 In answer to the magistrate, defendani said he belonged to no Church in particu • lar, and he and his friends had no special I name for their religion. He had held his • j views for years. II The magistrate said such ignorance was > i hard to believe, but there wsa this much ' in defendant's favour; he had lost a good » position through telling his employers what - he had told the police. It was hardly ' a wilfully false statement, but he advised > defendant to study the papers more care--11 fully in future. The charge would be dismissed. ' ' ' 3K835S