The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-04-26
Alleged Draft Evasion Matter
Is Under Amusement
STORY TOLD BY DEFENSE
Commissioner H. S. Abbott Will
Render His Decision Later
In This Month
From Tuesdays Daily.

The case of Morris A. Warner, son
| of E. c. Warner former resident OF
Garden City, under arrest for failure
to register for the, selectiye draft and
who had his preliminary hearing be-
fore H. S. Abbott, United States COM
| missioner, Minneapolis, yesterday
afternoi n, was taken under advise
icent by Mr.. Abbott until April 20.
Warner, according to the testimony
brought out in the hearing, went to
Winnipeg about the middle of May to
take the place Of the son of Mr..
Piper whose health was bad, and who
wanted young Warner to return to
look after his business and work
with the Empire Elevator company.
Limited, in Winnipeg.
Warner went to the office of the
American consul general to make APP
piication for a registration of his
American citizenship and while there,
according to the testimony of F. M.
Ryder, consul general, stated he would
not register for the draft until ad-
Vised to do so by his father.
Opinion of Ryder.
AS required by the state depart
ment, Mr.. Ryder sent the application
to Washington and accompanied it
with a personal letter asking that, in
view of the answers made by the ap-
pllcant, he was of the opinion that
Warner had come to Canada with the
express purpose of evading the draft.
IN view of the details submitted.
the department concurs with your
opinion that M. A. Warner went to
Winnipeg for the purpose of evading
military service in defense of the
country whose protection he seeks"
said an answer which the state. de-
partment sent to Mr. Ryder under
date of April 6.
During the application of Warner
Tor MS registration of citizenship, he
is further alleged to have said that he
was to stay in Canada permanently
and could not say whether he would
return to the United States in one.
Two or mere years, but probably not
while the war was in progress.
rms statement was denied yester-
Gay by the defer = MT.
Draft Eoard Member Writes.
Durng the testimony of the defendant
letter to Mr.. MCGEE from E. c. War
ner father of the defendant was in
trodGced in which the father NOTED that
reciprocal draft legislation between Cam
ada and the United States was in the
air. and asked Mr.. MCGEE to ..get into
communication with the proper authori-
ties regarding the registration of Nor
rlS and also to see ''is there could be
anYth1nS done about securing a deferred
call, in view of the Importance of Ills
work
Another letter from C.. w. Van Tuyl.
chairman of the thirteenth ward draft
board. was also introduced in which he
said to the defendant:
II am writing this at the request of
your father who is here at the time 1
am debating this letter. in reference to
your registration for the draft I have
taken this matter up with the office of
the adjutant general of the, state by
telephone, and have been advised that
YOU may register either with the Ameri-
oan consul at Winnipeg or in the Thir-
teenth ward local draft beard
Was On Flying Visit.
1t was stated that the defendant had
come to the United States just before
Christmas and had been married here,
hut had not registered at the time. be-
cause he said, cit YVES my opinion that
permanent residents of another country
were not required to register when they
came to the United States for a flying
visit"
Selective service regulations permit
the registering of persons subject to
urdIt WHO were OUT Vi lne couHlTS oi
the day of reSistra ton. within five days
after their return to the United States,
or its territories
Warner further testified that he came
to the United States at this time for the
purpose of investigating another Of
ficers training camp or to register for
the draft. and that he was arrested be-
fore he could get chance to register.
Arrested Day After Arrival.
He said he arrived in MINNEAPOLIS Anril
10 and was arrested the next day at his
fathers house.
Adjutant General Rhinow said yester-
day that the permission given to Lieu
tenant ]. S. Bryant of his office to reg
lister Warner at the Thirteenth ward
draft board April ~ had been given
without his knowledge or consent and
at o. time when he was in Washington
in conference with Provost Marshal Gen
eral Crowder