FAILING TO ENROL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3144, 24 July 1917, Page 4

FAILING TO ENROL

RESERVISTS IN COURT

The polico are continuing their campaign against reservists who through, negligence or otherwise nave failed to enrol under the Military Service Act. Yesterday, before Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., four reservists appeared. Horace Wilson, for whom Mr. H. i. O'Leary appeared, was charged that, being an unmarried man, lie did enrol in the Second Division of the reserve instead of the First Division. Mr. O'Leary pleaded guilty on behalf of accused, and said tliero were extenuating circumstances. 'In 1910 Wilson was living in another part of New Zealand, where He met tliQ woman vho eventually became his wife. At that time there were reasons why they could not marry, Ihey came to Wellington some time before the war started, and lived together as man and wife, nnd were regarded by their neighbours and friends as a married couple. Later the woman secured a divorce, and Wilson immediately married her. She died about six months after marriage. It was to protect the, name of his wife that he enrolled in the Second Division. Wilson was convicted and fined .So, with coats, in default one month's imprisonment. Jack Saunders. a single man, was charged with failing to register asj. re-. quired by Section 33 of the Military Service Act. Detective Rawle, who arrested the accused, said that when accosted Sanmlors stated that he arrived irt New' Zealand on May U by a troopship, and that he had been employed for the past five or six weeks on the ss Poherua. He said he was a single man and that his home was at. -Newport, Wales. Ho further stated that he had registered in England ™der the National Service Act. From the conyersation the detective had with Saunders it was apparent that the latter thought the English registration was euflicient to cover New Zealand. His "Worship> said the mnn had not lost, his English domicile and therefore dismissed the ease. Richard John -Evert, a seaman who was charged with failing to enrol, said ho thought ho had six months in which to enlist. He had been working on the ss Maori \ conviction was recorded and a fine of 20s. with costs was imposed, in default seven days' lmprisonLouis Mnckay, a single man, was also charged with failing to enrol It was explained that the defendant was of weak intellect. He was convicted and ordered to como up for sentence when called upon. In the meanwhile the man is to be placed under medical observation. FIRST DTYISTON MAN SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, July 23. Thomas Henry Smith, aged 27, for failing to enrol in tho First Division, was sentenced to-one months imprisonment. Tho Magistrate (Mr Bartholomew) said accused had deliberately evaded his responsibilities. Ho had not pent accused to gaol for the full term of three months, because he thought it desirable that such a man. should be taken into camp at an early period.