COPY.
9
No. 7 Police Station,
11th January, 1920.
Chief Inspector,
Sir,
With reference to Ex P.C. A 81 Denis Lavender, he transferred to this Station on the 11.12.19. On Saturday the 20.12.19 he attended the funeral of the late Sergeant Deveny and when he returned, himself and F.C. A 26 Rogers asked leave from Station which is granted. They were both for duty at 12 midnight but did not return till 2.45 a.m. They were then both drunk and considered unfit to be put on duty. They were reported and brought before the Hon. Capt. Supt. of Police on the 22.12.19. They both admitted the report and were each fined $5.00 and not to be put on theatre duty for 2 months.
At 5.20 p.m. same date, Constable Lavender came into the Charge Room and told me that he did not intend to do any more duty. I asked him what he meant by that? he said "I am fed up with the whole thing". I then asked him if he knew the seriousness of refusing duty, that it amounted to insubordination. He said "Yes, I know what it means.' "He is perfectly sober. I told him to go back to his room and consider over the matter that he was for duty at 12 midnight. I then telephoned to the Chief Inspector and told him about the matter. The Hon. Capt. Supt. of Polica thon spoke to me over the telephone and gave me instruct- -ions that if Constable Lavender still refused to go on duty at 12 midnight to charge him with misconduct and put him before the Police Court. At 11.55 p.m. some date, (22.12.19) I was in the Charge Room when Constable Lavender came in and said "I am still on the a:me mind and refuse to do more duty". I then told him that he was under arrest and charged him with misconduct by refusing to go on patrol-duty at 12 midnight on the 22.12.19. I did not lock him up but ordered him to his room. He was brought before J. R. Wood, Esq., First Police Eagistrate, on the 23.12.19,
and