ALLEGED HARBOURING OF DESERTERS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 238, 5 July 1944, Page 3

ALLEGED HARBOURING OF DESERTERS

Auckland Couple Charged (By Telegraph.— I'ress .Xseociation.) AUCKLAND, July 3. Two clmi'gcs, eiiL-li ot harbouring members of tlic United Slates forces on various dales, knowing them to have been absent, without leave, were preferred against a married <-oui>ic. George Kuthc-r-I'ot'd Shorllaml and I'earl Elizabeth Slmrtlami, when liter appeared before Air. J. 11. Luxl'ord, S.M., today. Both delendauls pjeuded not guilty. The prosecution is brought under llm I Int-bouriug 01. Deserters Emergency Regulations. 1912. A private in Ihe United States Army, Ralph Francis de Bttcee, gave evidence that on April 24 he and another soldier named Clarke stowed away on an aircraft. at New Caledonia and came to Auckland absent without leave from their unit. Upon arrival in Auckland witness was 1.-ikeii by Clarke tc. Hie Shorllaml cafe opi-rnted by defendants and was introduced to Mrs. Shoi'tlaml, whom they knew as ''mum.’' Clarke lojd Airs. Shoreland the.v Imd come from New Caledonia, said witness, and suggested they shotikj stay at Hie cafe. Site agreed and said both men Imd a home there for as loug as the.v should waul. The following day. said witness, he met another American absentee named Moore. Witness took Moore to the cafe. I’laces were prepafed for all three men to sleep ou the premises and they stayed there several consecutive nights. Nothing was paid for lodging. On one occasion witness saw Mrs. Sbortland hand Clarke a £5 note. Witness said be stayed at the cafe for four or live days with Atooil, and during that time they did some concrete work for Shortland. On the last d.-iv there Mrs. Sbortland got them each a iecomlhand suit of civilian clothes. Ko char-e was made to either man. Witness later parted company with Moore, find wheu next he returned to the cate he xia» told that .Moore and Clarke bad-gone to wo'-k on n chicken farm at Henderson. Some weeks afterward he met Shortland in the street and was told the military police were watching the cate. Witness went to the cafe to get bis uniform back, but Mrs. Shprtland him off the premises, saying she did not want 'to be charged for having a deserter there. On June 15 he gave hmismt up. Cross-examined, witness admitted he hittl staved some nights elsewhere w Auckland -with a girl friend whom he wished to marry. He denied knowing his suit of civilian clothes had been claimed bv the girl’s cousin as haying been stolen from him. He also denied telling “Its. Slioi-llatid he bad come from New Caledonia as an advance guard. Witness admitted borrowing £5 from Airs. Bhortland on the pretext that he and his friend were going into the country tor a few days. , Arnold Moore, private in the Unitcfl States Army, said he absented, himself from his unit, which was stationed in Auckland at the time, on February J. In April he met the previous witness and was taken to the Sbortland cafe. He confirmed staying there without paj’>n» lodging, but said that he understood the concrete work undertaken was by way of paving for their board. On a number of occasions Mrs. Shortland iJ a X.e i! 1 , 111 monev, totalling in all about £3/10/-. The civilian clothing procured for him was too small, so he accompanied fehortland to a second-hand shop, where it wire exchanged. Shortland had been the one who suggested getting civilian clothes, stating it was necessary if they did not want to get /picked up.” , On one occasion, said -xvitness, hbortInnd had said something about getting him a social security book in his son s name, but when subsequently asked about it, be. replied that they were ouly issued to men on attaining the age of 18 and that would make his son liable for military service. . . Cross-examined, witness said Airs. Shortland had suggested he should give himself up to the senior officer. It xvas some days after this that he did so. Tie denied ever having received £5 from her ns alleged by the previous witness. The hearing was adjourned till Alonday.