THE MILITARY SERVICE ACT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1832, 28 May 1918, Page 3

THE MILITARY SERVICE ACT.

CHARGE AGAINST A TOKOMARU RESIDENT, At the Palmerston Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr W. G. K. Kenrick, S.M., John Judd, Tokbmaru, was charged that being in possession of information relevant to the purposes of the Military Service Act, with respect to two re-i servists, William Shields and Bernard Muholland, he withheld such information on being required to disclose the same to Costable Condon.

Captain McDonnell said he issued warrants for the arrest of William Shields and Bernard Mulholland, both of whom were ordered to parade for camp on May Ist, which they failed to do. They again came before witness on May 9th and were escorted to Trentham.

To Mr Cooper: Both men were passed fit, and the warrants were issued under the Act of 1916. Constable Condon’, Shannon, said

that on May 7th, in company with Constable Gow and Private Wills, ' military policeman, he went to Mr John Judd’s house, Tbkomaru. Witness knocked at the front door, which was answered by Mr Judd,

and said that he had come to arrest William Shields. Judd said “He’s not here, Mr Condon; there is no one in the house but Roland, my brother.” Witness said he had reason to believe the men he wanted were in the house, and Judd replied, “Not at all, you have made a Perhaps they are at my father’s place.” Witness replied that Shi-

elds was not at the house of Mr Judd senr., who had stated that he had warned him off the place. Judd said a third, time that Shields was not in the house. Witness then asked to be allowed to search the house, to which Judd, after some hesitation, agreed. Witness went through the back kitchen, then into a bedroom, which contained a wardrobe, and on opening the latter found a man crouching inside. On being brought into the kitchen the man said his name was Courtney, and he'produced a leave pass fron) camp. In the meantime, Private Wills had called out to witness to examine the scullery, which was locked. There was no key in thff door, and Judd, on being asked to open it, said he had no key. Witness answered that he would have to find a key, or the door would be broken /open. He (witness) also called out to Shields to open the door. Shields answered that he had no key, but soon afterwards a key was put out from under the door. The door was then opened and Shields and Mulholland, who were both

hiding within, were arrested. Jxxdd said to Shields, “Why did you not go to your bush job instead of coining to my house.” The men were then handed over to the military police.

Constable (low, who corroborated

the evidence of the previous witness, said he heard Judd assure

Constable Condon that there was no one in the house but his brother Roland. The men could not have been in the house without defendant’s knowledge. There were several bottles of liquor on the kitchen table, and the two defaulters were under the influence of liquoi’. Judd said: “You’ve got me into a nic<i mess now. I wish you had gone to your bush camp.” Judd afterwards} remarked that they had a scrub cutting job to go to. The case was adjourned to May 30th.