Jailed - Jehovah’s Witness Refuses War Work

By Angela Gooch on March 6th, 2008

JEHOVAH’S WITNESS FINED
MAGISTRATES AND THE LAW
FAILED TO ATTEND MEDICAL
A Jehovah’s witness, who was refused permission to read further long extracts from the Bible, to support his contentions that he must obey the directions of “a higher court,” came before the Skegness magistrates yesterday.
He was Dennis J. Matthews, of 56 Brunswick Drive, Skegness, who was summoned by Horace V. Vernon, Officer of the Ministry of Labour for failing to comply with a direction to submit himself for medical examination at Lincoln on March 15th.

Defendant pleaded guilty.
Mr. R. E. Frearson said defendant was 19 and was registered as a conscientious objector, on condition he undertook full time coal mining work. He was a Jehovah Witness and did no work.
He had previously failed to comply with a direction and a case was heard at Wisbech in September, last year, when he was fined £3 or a month’s imprisonment and he understood he refused to pay and went to gaol. He had continued to do nothing since but carry on with his religion.
On March 9th, he was issued with a direction to go to Lincoln for medical examination, on the 15th.

A FULL TIME JOB
WW2 Soldier bible He reminded the magistrates, that youths were only sent to coal mining if they were found physically fit, so those exanminations were necessary.
That was another case, where a young man merely said he was not going to take the slightest notice of the government, tribunal or magistrates.
It was difficult to know what to do with them. He might have some reason to put before them, but he was apparently physically fit, would not go for a medical, and declined to do anything for his country.
Whether that is part of his religion I know not. If it is, my own point of view is that the quicker the religion is done away with, the better.”
Miss Dorothy E. Robinson representative of the Medical Board at Lincoln, said defendant did not attend to have his medical examination on March 15th.
Defendant, in evidence, described himself as a full time Christian Evangelist and in a long statement interspersed with extracts from the scriptures, said he could only give unconditional service and obedience to Jehovah.

HIS FREEDOM THEIR BONDAGE
Asked by the Clerk how long he was going on, defendant said no work on earth could be greater or more essential than preaching the gospel. He had given up his secular work, but he later admitted that, he was only paid his expenses. He stood for freedom of worship according to the dictates of one’s conscience.
In another lengthy statement, he said the “work” was being accomplished all over the world even in Germany and many of their workers had been in the concentration camps.
The Magistrates Clerk (Mr. W. C. Howard) If all the young men were of the same opinion as you…
Defendant : We should not see the trouble in Europe there is today!
The Magistrates Clerk: That’s your opinion.
Defendant: We should not have seen the war.
The Chairman (Mr. T. Marshall) said the magistrates had to carry out the civil law and they did not think the quoting of the scriptures had a bearing on that case. He thought they had heard enough. They were to carry out the law, and defendant would be fined 40s. and £1 4s. costs.
Defendant said his intention was not to pay.
The Clerk said there were 28 days in which to pay, and in default, defendant would have to go to prison for the appropriate term as required by law.

Source: Skegness News 1945