FOUR DEFAULTERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22133, 29 November 1941, Page 8

FOUR DEFAULTERS

SENT TO DETENTION CAMP (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 27. “You are humbugging the Court. Get to a detention camp quickly,” said Mr A. A. McLachlan, S.M., to-day, as he waved away from the Bench John Burns Crichton, a solicitor. Crichton pleaded not guilty to refusing to obey a lawful command to submit to medical examination. Similar charges were preferred against Kenneth Edgar Adams. Raymond Leslie Adams, Thomas Allen Adams, while Clifford Marsh was charged with refusing to draw clothing. All t he offences took place at Burnham Camp. All accused were sent to a defaulters’ camp for the duration. Before the hearing of the charges, Crichton applied for an adjournment to settle his private affairs. He said that on July 7 he was fined £5O and sent to gaol for three months. On completion of his term he was taken into military custody and remanded for court-martial. After being under close arrest for 44 days he was remanded to a civil court. “The men in Libya would like a few days to attend to their business,” said the Magistrate. “There is no provision for bail on this charge and the question of leave from the detention camp is not in my hands.” Crichton sought permission to approach the Magistrate to show him some papers, when the Magistrate remarked: “You are humbugging the Court.”

Addressing Marsh, the Magistrate said: “It is a pity to see a fine stamp of man like you going to a defaulters’ camp.”