GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1917, Page 5

GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

DESERTERS COURT-MARTIALLEI). By Telegraph.—Press Association. Palmerston N., Last Night. A court-martial tried two cases today. Robert Horace Phillips, of Tarn-' naki, was charged with desertion, f i»!' : was arrested wlien living at an spot and pleaded guilty. He said: "\Vhy :: I objected to go was purely because I .iiad a conscientious objection to fighting."

Frank Vincent Cully, on a similar charge, read a statement in defence, in which he stated he. received the notice to parade for medical examination at Mastcrton on December IG, 1!)1(>. On December 5 he left Hinekura for Martinborough, and from that date till December 10 he had be-.'ii drinking heavily. Ho duly reported at Mastcrton as ordered, hut left the hall, as he. was under the influence of liquor. Next morning ho was ill from the effects of drink, ajid walked out from Mastcrton towards Tainui, where ho obtained employment at Kcrub-cntting. He mentioned tile matter to his fellow-workers, who told him that if he gave himself up be would get five years in gaol. He worked there for three months and then got casual labor at various places, but was still frightened to report. When r.rrested for drunkenness at Carterton on October 25 he voluntarily told the police as to his posb> tion. He denied any deliberate intention to evade service. The finding of the Court in both cases will be announced later.