DID NOT WANT SON TO FIGHT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 70, 15 December 1917, Page 8

DID NOT WANT SON TO FIGHT

CHARGE OF INCITING TO EVABH SERVICE. By Tekjvaph.-Press Association. Hamilton, December Li. At the Supreme Court Francis Walkv er, farmer at Korakonui, was charged with inciting his son, Gilbert, to evade military service. The son was gazetted as a deserter, and. the police went to the farm, and saw the son disarm pearing into the bush with a rifle in his hand. Accused said: "My boy ia not going from here. Ho is only nineteen years of ago, . You big hulks will never deal with him; deal with me first. Ho will never fight for Jimmy Allen and the dirty rotten GovernAccused was called on by the police several times. On another occasion the police, after secreting themselves near the house all night, arrested the son during the absence of the father. The latter returned, and said: "If. I had been hero you would never have taken him.- The Government cannot send the- boy to fight. They have no power to-send a man outside the three-mile limit. They have sent' too many already. Why aren't you fellows there?" The police searched the house and found half adozen guns. Allan Graham, auctioneer, ■ stated that ho visited the farm and saw the son disappearing into the-bush. Accused said: "My son has been drawn ia tho ballot. ■ Tho police-are here to get him, but he is going off the place We can fight our own battles. He's got a rifle and it's loaded. He'll shoot the first man that dares to follow him. He is a good shot; ho shot a horse a mile away. I've got a sixchambered revolver to uso before they get him, also cartridges." Accused was very excited at the time. Counsel for accused did.not call evidence, but stated that there was no cvidonco of direct incitement, hut only of strong language against tho Government. The prosecution must prove that accused persuaded tho son to disobo.v the lawful commands of tho mv thorities. None of the utterances wero inlSlß by tho father in tho presence of his son. _ The presence of firearms had no bearing on the charge of inciting. Tho jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and prisoner was discharged.