WHITELAW'S WALLET

NZ Truth, Issue 612, 10 March 1917, Page 3

WHITELAW'S WALLET

Arrested for Failing to Enrol

Mysterious Missives from the Admiralty

Turn Out to be Dog Licenses

The Man to be Medically Examined

A -worried-looking: individual named John Whitelaw appeared before Mr. I*. G. Reid, S.M., at the Wellington Magistrate's Court on Monday morning last on two charges — refusing to answer questions as to his enrolment m the reserve, and failing to enrol. These are the first proceedings of this nature taken m Wellington to date. Sub -Inspector Mar sack prosecuted. ' and Whitelaw pleaded not guilty to each charge. I Constable Smith, of Kilblrnie, gave evidence to the effect that ACTING ON INFORMATION RECETVED, he called at the building yard where Whitelaw was working on Saturday .morning last and asked him if he had enrolled. Whitelaw refused to answer and said, "Report to your bead men and tell them that you have got a man here who refuses to say whether he is registered or not." Later on, with Constable Wallace, witness again went to see Whitelaw, and asked him the question again, and as he still refused' to answer he was arrested and locked | up. / Whitelaw: At the station, on searching me, did you come across a wallet? — Yes, you said it contained private information from the Admiralty, and you asked that it be % locked up m a safe place and nof be" opened by the police. Later, it was opened and it was found to contain £ 11, two dog registration tickets and some newspaper cuttings. Whitelaw (mysteriously) : You found nothing concerning what I said? — No. Whitelaw: Well, I may have been mistaken, but it was only last Wednesday that I was handed them. Whitelaw contended that he told the constable that he had signed the registration form; though he had not got any acknowledgment from the military authorities. He said he told the constable not to get excited, as he was | only a channel of communication In the j matter between him and the authorlties. Whitelaw, continuing, "You lodged me m the lock-up, arid I contend here m this court that THAT IS A CRIMINAL ACT, and the nation must have gone mad to do It. y Sub - Inspector^ Marsack: Answer questions, do not make a speech. Constable Wallace gave evidence that 1 he accompanied the last witness on the occasion on which Whitelaw was arrested. Whitelaw: There was no reason for you to ask me any- questions, was there? — We wanted to give you another chance. Whitelaw (m a bored voice): You're only wasting time. That will do, thank you. . ! Whitelaw then gave evidence on his own behalf. "The point I want to give out is this," he said. "When the constable came to me, I told him that I had no acknowledgment about the registration, and this is the point where the trouble arose. I could not discuss it with the constable. Through the neglect and behavior of the Post OfHce authorities, they have abused me to the bitter end, which is an unsufferable injury, and I have turned them down for ever, and havo sworn never to post another letter with them. I havo proof of this with the businK-.s I HAD WITH THR ADMIRALTY. ' There were two letters returned to j me. I wrote to the postmaster three times, nn<l { want to know why my Infers were sent to Paymaster Brown? It Is over a. transaction that may be of more viihu* than all the eoiHlnpents ilint have left New Zealand, and 1 am lurii'-U ilown by she Postmaster at VWllKrrttin." Hi; V.V'»"''i J j>: T thin lc Inn best plan nill \.': lo renv.M'i thlt rnsi» for :t f«>w ■ I. vs s.i tlctt tlofendunt can hj» medically r-Mimlned. Whltohiw: 1 have been handicapped out of all existence by not getting an acknowledgment from the Post Office.