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On This Day

05

Feb
2017

In On This Day

By Nicola Gauld

On This Day, 5 February 1917

On 05, Feb 2017 | In On This Day | By Nicola Gauld

Birmingham Mail

Monday 5 February 1917

BOURNVILLE ABSENTEE’S DEFENCE.

“COULD NOT TAKE PART IN MURDER.”

In the Third Court of Birmingham Police to-day, Ernest Edward Horton (35), compositor, Beech Road, Bournville, was charged with being an absentee from military service. Accused said he believed war to be directly opposed to the teaching of Jesus Christ. He could not take part in an act of murder because the State ordered him to do so. He added that he had been before the tribunal, where he was given a month get work of national importance; but refused do so, because he would, by accepting such work, be releasing another man to do that which he objected to do himself. Horton was fined 40s. and committed to await escort.

Detective Draisey, while in Cheapside on Saturday night, overheard a woman say to John Price, labourer, that he was a deserter, and she should “shop him.” There were signs of a disturbance and the smashing crockery, and upon the detective going to make investigations the man said he had been discharged from the army. As he failed to produce evidence of this, or to show that he had been registered, Draisey took him into custody. This morning defendant was before the magistrates in the Third Court, charged with failing to register, and with being an absentee. Price said he was 44 years of age, and he was remanded for a week to give him an opportunity of proving this assertion. On asking for bail, he was told the country was at war, and he had himself to blame for what had occurred.