TERRITORIAL-CASES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4489, 8 November 1922, Page 2

TERRITORIAL-CASES.

NUMBER OF CONVICTIONS.

DEFAULTER LOSES CIVIL RIGHTS. .At the Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning last, before Mr J- HSalmon, S.M. .Walter Baden Lipshaui was charged with failing, without lawful excuse, to render the personal service required under sections 55 and 56 of the Defence Amendment Act, 1312, in that he did not attend the parades called by the local Defence authpnities op various dates’. The Serge.ant-Majpr stated that accused had written an excuse to witness giving a reason for bis absence from drill,, which was that he was working in Mangaiti. On inquiries being made it was' found that the accused had nett been there during October, and evidence was given to this effect by Mr "AV. J. Towers, accused’s employer. The accused did not appear to answer the charges, and Constable McCUnchy drew the Magistrate’s attention to the fact that it was the second offence, almost within a month.

His Worship said it appeared to him to be a case of gross negligence and evasion by the accused to attend and the accused had made an attempt to deliberately deceive the Defence Department by sending forward an untrue excuse. Accused would be convicted and fined £3, and costs 14 s, in default 14' days’ in Thames gaol; also an order wbuldbe made under section 56 of the Defence Amendment Act, 1912, depriving Lipsham of civil rights for a period of four years from date, Albert E. Denton appeared to answer a charge of failing to attend parades when ordered to do so. Ster-geant-Major .Busby said that accused had missed a number of parades, and had offered no excuses. Since June 19 parades had been called and accused had not attended any of them. Accused said he was an assistant ph the nigiht-soil contract, and ifwas impossible to attend night parades. Con-, stable McClinchy stated that Denton had previously been convicted and fined for a similar offence. His Worship said it was evidently a clear case of-accused evading the service required a' him, and asked the sergt.major if accused was entitled to exemption on account of his occupation. The sergt.-major; said exemption couH be granted if accused applied for. same through the proper channel's. Accused said he did not know of this

. and in view of the circumstances His Worship said he would be convicted and fined £2, with costs 7s, and he must apply for exemption from attendance at night parades - at once. Edward J. Pennell appeared on a similar charge, ahd, being a first offender and the possibility that a misunderstanding had occurred between accused and Sergb-Majo.* Busby and to an application for leave, His Worship said he would give Pennell the benefit of, the doubt, and he would be convicted and ordered to pay court costs, 7s.

Harold Burgess, a local jockey, lined up at the barrier, but he proved a bad starter. This ,young man was similarly charged with failure to attend parades. Sergt-Major Busby, giving evidence, stated that Burgess had applied, for leave ofi absence as he was going some distance up the river to work, but he was seen in Paeroa a couple of days afterwards, and had since been regularly seen in Paeroa exercising racehorses. Burgess denied the allegations, and said lie had been bushfelling for one Phillips. His Worship said it. appeared to him to be a case of deliberately evading service., and he would be convicted and fined £l, and casts 7s, in <lefault seven days’ in gaol.