TAKEN FROM CAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1918, Page 7

TAKEN FROM CAMP.

CHARGE AGAGINST A MAHOE , FARMER. ACCUSED CONVICTED AND FINED.-; In the Supreme Court yesterday, before his Honor the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, Robert Perrett, a farmer residing at Mahoe, near Stratford, was charged under section 3, paragraphs g, hj, and 1, of the Military Service Act, 191G, with (1) procuring a motor car to convey Private Edward John Perrett from Grey town to Mahoe, paying for the ear and supplying food and shelter to enable liiin to evade, continuance of service in the Expeditionary Force; (2) agreeing to pay the cost of conveying Privates E. J, Perrett and John Maurice Hovind from Grey town to Mahoe for the same purpose; (3) inciting the two soldiers to take this journey with the object of evading further service; (4) conspiring with the two soldiers for the same end. Mr. H, R. Billing appealed: for the. Crown, and Mr. P. O'Dea, instructed'by Messrs Welsh and McCarthy ■ (with Mr. A. H. Powell) represented accused. The following jury was empanelled: Messrs A. R. Clow, H. Inch.J. H, Redward, G. Neal, G. W. King, H, Huthnance, W. T. Hookham, M. E, Clow, H. F. Andrews, J. A. Bishop, M, H, Barnett, J. ■I. Ilarker. Mr, Hookham was chosen '.j reman.

THE ESCAPE FROM CAMP. lolin Morris Hovind, a member of the : Apeditionary Forces, Baid he saw ac-i-iwcd at Featherston camp on April 24 List. Witness had no leave except what e took. Ernest John Perrett was also ■i camp at Featherston at the same time. Vitness and Perrett, with his father, left '.mp without leave on the evening of pril 25. They reached Grey town be- . een 7.30 and 8 o'clock. Oil the way nVy discussed going to Mahoe, which •■as the intention of the three of them, hey had supper at Greytown, where . ;ey met a taxi-driver. Mr. Perrett told witness to tell the taxi-driver he wanted to see him. Perrett saw the driver, who agreed to take them to Mahoe. Mr. Perrett agreed to pay the fare, which witness said he thought was to be £lO. He made no arrangement himself as to paying the fare. In conversation they had all agreed to go to Mahoe if they could get a taxi-driver. They all left Greytown for Mahoe about 9 o'clock. They travelled via Masterton and the Manawatu Gorge. They stopped at Palmerston for benzine and at Hawera for breakfast, and reached Mahoo about 10 o'clock the next morning. During the journey Mr. Perrett mentioned that they were running a big risk, to which they replied that when they got hack to camp they would get two or three days C.B. They had breakfast at the Railway Hotel, Hawera, When they reached Mahoe they went to Mr. Perrett's house. They slept in a bit of a "shanty" in the paddocks. Meals were brought out to them in the "shantywhich was about a mile from the house. To the Judge: Private Perrett had had a final leave prior to this time.

Continuing, witness said he thought Perrett returned from final leave two or three days before they left camp together. It was agreed that it would not be safe for them to stay in the house at Mr. Perrett's. They stayed there about four or five days. Witness saw accused sign a cheque for £IG odd, which was paid to the taxi-driver. Ho also paid him a few odd shillings. Witness decided it would be best to go back to camp. To the Judge: Private Perrett stayed behind when witness returned to camp. Continuing, witness said he did not tell accueed he was going back to camp. When he got back to camp he had ten days' pay stopped and got some C.B. I To the Judge: He had not seen Private Perrett since. To Mr. O'Dea: When they left camp they did not intend going back to camp that night. It was talked about, but they decided to stay at Gryetown. Perrett did at first say he woud get a car to take them back to camp, but changed his mind. Private Perrett was the most anxious to get away from camp. Witness made up his mind to go away for a few days, as he had given camp a good "go" and was a bit sick of it. He had never been absent without leave at any other time.. In reply to accused's suggestion that they were running a big risk, witness and Perrett said they would only get C.B. a lid perhaps a feiv days' pay would be stopped. They both treated it as a joke at the time. They had some drink on the way; in fact, they had a bottle jn the car with them. He thought the taxi-driver might have heard the conversation as to C.B. and pay being stopped. They all assisted to direct the road. There was some suggestion about stopping at the "tin hut," between Featherston and Greytown. Accused was to stop at the hut and witness and Private Perrett were to go back to camp. J'hey both had a share in "barracking" accused to go on to Greytown. When witness left camp he had only 2s or 3s. He was not aware that Perrett owed his son anything for stock. Nothing was said to witness as to his paying a share of the cost of the taxi. When they left camp they just intended to have a little holiday and then go back to camp. The Judge: And you went back to scamp?— Ye-

And is Private Perrett still enjoying his little holiday?—So far as I kjiow. Re-examined by Mr. 'Billing, witness said he thought there had been some arrangement between them as to who should pay for the taxi. SEAROIIIXG FOR A DESERTER.

Sergeant J. Dale, stationed , at the Stratford, police station, said that on May 17 last he received a warrant for the arrest of Private E. J. Perrett. On May 20 he went to .Mahoe with two constables—Liston, of Kaponga, and Robertson. They arrived there about 5 o'clock in the morning, and went to accused's house and told him he had a warrant for his son's arrest as a military deserter. •He was told that accused did not know w'here his son was and had not seen him since lie was on final leave. Tliey searched the place, ibut found no trace of any deserter. Constable 'List-on, of Kaponga, gave evidence as to accompanying Sergeant Dale and Constable Robertson to accused's house and searching for Private Perrett. Later, with Constable Nuttall, he interviewed accused in Stratford, who again denied any knowledge of his son's whereabouts, and said if he had disappeared lie might foe up Gisborne way, as he had relatives there. To Mr- O'Dea: So far as he knew, Private Perrett was still at large. ConstaMe Nuttall gave evidence as to the arrest of accused. MILITARY EVIDENCE. Major E. P. Cox, commander of Kin. 8 (Hawera) group area, said that while in his territory Privates Hovind and Perrett would bo under his control. He know warrants had been- issued Jfor the

arrest of Hovind and JPerrett. The one for Hovind had been cancelled/as he lad returned to camp. IBerrett had not fossil found unless within tlie last 24 hours. To Mr. O'Dea: On the request of accused, Private Perrett was to have been medically re-examined at 10 sun. on April 20. At -that time it was found that Private Perrett -\vas missing from camp and'had not been seen since.

TAXI-DRIVER'S ACCOUNT. Thomas L. Elder, taxi-driver, Greytown, said lie first met accused at Greytown on the evening of April 25. He was called aside by a soldier and went down to whero his car was standing. One of the two soldiers standing there asked him how much the fare would be to 'Stratford. Accused was standing a few feet away. He asked how far it was, and they led him to believe that it was a little beyond Wanganui. They got n cheap ride. He arranged to do the trip for £l6. One of the soldiers said he (witness) would tie paid on reaching Stratford, and that accused would see the fare was paid. They left Greytown about half-past nine that night, with the two soldiers and accused in the car. tie found the way to Hawera, and after that Private iHovind directed him. They had breakfast at Ha/wera. After breakfast he took the car into the town at Hawera to got some benzine. He became auspicious that everything was not right when they got to Hawera, on account of the action of the two soldiers. He insisted on having breakfast at Hawera, because he had been driving all night and was very hungry. On reaching Mahoe he was taken into the house and given a cup of tea. Accused paid witness by cheque and a few odd shillings. He had pointed out that a mistake had (been made in the fare, and one of the soldiers had said- that accused would make that all right. He was led to believe that accused's son had been medically examined and was to get his discharge. Accused said Something about his son being subject to fits. To Mr- O'Dea: He did hear some talk about C.8., but could not say what had led up to it. He returned by the same route by which they came -up. That closed the case for the Crown.

CASE QTOR THE BSFENOE. Georgo Perrett, accused, said he was a farmer at Mahoe, '63 years old, and. had a family of 10. [Private E. Perrett, his son, Was 20 years old when he wa3 called up. He was subject to fits, but was classified 01 by the medical board He got special leave from camp to come up and see to the selling of his stock. In consequence of his son's health witness went to camp to see if he could be medically re-t.;amined. He had a fit a day or two before returning from final leave- He had had about three fits altogether. Witness saw the camp doctor at Featherston, who told him that his son had been before a special medical board. He saw the doctor, who told him his son could not be discharged because the medical doctor had contradicted himself in his certificate. He told the doctor that his son had been under Dr. Paget, of Stratford, and the doctor said he would get into communication with Dr. PagetHe understood Dr. Paget had said he had never seen his son in a fit and could not say what the nature off the was. He believed his son was to have had further examination. Witness said that on the day his son and Private Hovind left camp lie had tried to get a bed at Featherston, but could not- He then suggested he should stay at the "tin hut," but the bovs said he would not get a bed there, and persuaded him to go on to Greytown. The <boy R then said they would go for a holiday, and witness warned them of the risk they ■would run. They onlv laughed and said they would get a fine and C.B. At Greytown he tried to get the boys a car for them to go b'snk to camp. While witness was paying for the tea the boys went and engaged a taxi to taike them to Stratford. The hoys came and told him that a taxidriver wanted to see him. He asked the driver about going a long trip, and the price was fixed at £l6. The boys were i-elying on him to find the money when they got home, as witness owed his son some money for cattle bought. Hoviud agreed to pay bis share when tbev got back to carnn. iHovind had said that wherever he bad worked he had alwavs taken a holiday, and he was gointr to do the same while working for ''Bill Massey." The risk thev were running was referred to several times during the journey home. On arriving at Mahoe-wit-nesq gave the driver a cheque in payment for the trip- He also gave him a. few shillings extra, as the driver said something about having made a mistake in arranging the price. They stayed et, witness' place albiout three days. He toll them they had better return to r-nnip. and that they could not stay about his place. They disappeared together, and he had not seen his son since. He had searched and tried to find him. but eould not. The money witness owed bis son for cattle was paid the day they arrived home, less the amount paid for the taxi. Hovind said he would pay his share of the car hire when he got baclc to "num.

To Mr. IRilling: His son went in for snort. Before he was called up for service lie helped witness on the farm a.t times. He owned some stock which witness gave him as (part payment for his k'bnr. For the balance lie used' to get a' little money when he wanted it.

To the Judge: The cattle were taken by his son a. few month's before he was called up. He got five heifers and seven steers, *and the price agreed upon was £3O. He agreed to take them back when his son went to camp. The deal was completed on April 10. His son save him a receipt for the amount. He had never taken a receipt from his son for anything else before. In reply to a further suggestion from his Honor that the receipt had been concocted and given after Private Perrett came away from camp, witness said it had beenContinuing, witness said he paid his son the balance of the amount for the cattle, after paying for the motorcar, in £4 notes. Witness said he could easily distinguish his son's cattle from those of his own, and he was asked by the Crown counsel to describe the cattle. He said lie could pick them out from a mob, but could not describe them. Witness did not remember saying to the constables, when they came to" inquire for hig son, that he did not know where he was. When lie went to Featherston it was in consequence of what Dr. Paget had said. Ho saw the. Camp Adratant. Mr. Billing: Did you not toll the adjutant that you would not go home without your son ?—No. He said he understood his son was to Ibo further examined as soon as the camp doctors beard from Dr. Paget. IT® urged his son to stay until that examination took place. When ! they (Hovind and his son) said thov. I would only get C.B, witness did not 1 think it rerv'serious, as the b'oya seemed to make ft jofcs of it. When they , got

paddocks. Witness took them food oufc to the shed. He would not see them Starve. Hs urged them to come into the house, but they would not. He then told them they would have to go away, as they made him liable aa well as themselves. Ediward Mason, farmer, Stratford, said he was a son-in-law of accused. He came to accused's place about an hour find a-quarter after Privates Hovind and Perrret arrived from camp. He heard Hovind tell Perett that he would pay his share of the car w'hen he got hack to camp, as li# had money coming to him. He heard no other -jonversatkm. There Wore several others in the dining room of Mr. Perrett's house, A'here the conversation took place. The hoys said they were having a bit of a holiday, and would probably not get more than a little 0.8. when they got task. 'Counsel addressed the jury, end Ms Honor summed up, and the jury retired at 5 5 p.m., and returned at 5.32 with a. verdict of guilty on the first, second, and fourth counts, witH a recommendation to' leniency. Evidence aa to accused's character was given by ,T. M'Cluggage and 0. D. Sole, of Stratford. Accused was fined £SO, to be paid within one month, in default six months* imprisonment.