DAY BY DAY

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13753, 29 April 1918, Page 4

DAY BY DAY

Sheriff David H. Knott, who has been conducting prisoners To Prisen to Sing S'ng, said reto centty that among the Evade War. prisoners committed were an unusual number of young men of draft age who, he believes, have committed crimes deliberately in order to pvoid being called for military duty. He said he overheard some of these men make the admission that their only purpose in becoming criminals was to avoid being made soldiers. He heard one man say: "Sing Sing for me. I'd rather go up the river and do my bit than- go over the top and gel killsd," while still another said: "They trert you fine in Sing Sing, 'iou can re>d, have.plenty to eat and play baseball, while over in France youare apt to get killed." The Sheriff said he was co-operating with Warden Moyer of ■? ig Sing in getting evidence concerning men who have gone to priscn to avoid military duty, with the idea that iliey should be compelled to do duty when their terms have expired. "I took a party there recently," said the Sheriff, "and among them was Abruzzo, convicted of murder in the first degree. When the party arrived at Ossining a number of hangers-on at the stat'on openly uobraided the prisoners for evading thrir duty as soldiers, and shouted: 'Slackers!' Not one resented the remark except Abruzzo, who turned red and growled savagely at the men.