"I DONT WANT TO FIGHT"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 23, 22 October 1917, Page 4

"I DONT WANT TO FIGHT"

♦ XirUTAKY DEFAULTER SENT TO GAOL. By Telcßraph—Press Association. Palmerston N., October 20. At the Magistrate's Court this morning Thomas Carr, alias John Rock, waa charged, before Mr. W. G. Kenrick, S.M., with, changing his name without the consent of the Minister of Internal Affairs, and assuming a name other than that by which ho is usually known. Sergeant Henry conducted the prosecution, and stated that the accused was a reservist, and was drawn in the first ballot at Masterlon. Ho had changed his name, and had been eluding the police for a long time. He was recently working near Huntervillt, and when he saw a. constable approach Tan away. He was 'chased, and put up a desperate resistance before he was captured. When caught the accused 6aid to the arresting constable: "I will not go to the front,' and also said that if he was compelled to go he would either commit suicide or take file life of someone else.

.The Magistrate: What are you frightened of? Accused: I don't want to fight, find I don't eee why I should fight people who have done tne no harm. Tho Magistrate: You are letting the other meu' fight for you. It is cither selfishness or cowardice. If you are seneible, you will go. Accused: I'll never go there. I'm not afraid of the Germans. My mother and father could not live in the country where they were born through 'the British.

The Magistrate: You'll change your tune Wilen von go into camp. Accused: I'll never change m.v tune. Sergeant Henry asked {or a substantial penalty, ns i.li 6 case was a serious one. The" accused was convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment, on the expiry of which he is to be handover to the nifiiyj.? «*horitic3.