“STATE’S STUPIDITY”

Southland Times, Issue 24829, 22 August 1942, Page 4

“STATE’S STUPIDITY”

Charge Against Woman

Dismissed

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, August 21. A hope that the Magistrate would not do anything to sully the name of blemish the record of a woman whose conduct had been a shining example of a mother’s devotion and self-sacrifice was expressed by defending counsel, Mr Meek, when Jessie Drummond Lowther pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to a charge of harbouring a son knowing him to be a deserter from the forces. The police said that when the provost captain inquired Mrs Lowther said she did not know where her son was. A sergeant on duty outside reported that he had seen a young man trying to get through a window and the captain found the son hiding in a wardrobe. Mr Meek said that of six sons, all . of whom had volunteered for military service, two were prisoners of war in. Germany, a third had been turned down for military service and was in the Home Guard., a fourth was in camp, a fifth had been killed in action and the sixth, aged 19, was in camp. His employer successfully appealed and for some unknown reason the son was later called up for the Army. He then disappeared and arrived at his mother’s home two days after she had been advised of her son’s death In action.

Remarking upon "the State’s stupidity in bringing this action,” the Mr J. H. Luxford, said: “I don’t think you have over-stated the matter, Mr Meek. I will dismiss this case under section 92 of Justices of the Peace Act as being not fit for conviction."