EVASION OF SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2772, 16 May 1916, Page 6

EVASION OF SERVICE

ATTEMPT TO BRIBE A DOCTOR. At Bow Street, London, Polico Court recently, William Stephen Brown, 29, a single man, was summoned for offerine £5 to Dr. J. R. M'Donnell,' a medical officer on. the Recruiting Staff, as an inducement to reject him as medically unfit. The prosecution alleged that the defendant was emnloyed as a. valet to Lord Northcliffe. On February 23 last he presented himself at the Central Recruiting Offico at Old Scotland Yard, and /was examined by Dr. O'Donnell. During the examina.tion he informed the doctor that he was not a fit man, and that his employer, Lord Northclifre, had said he was ineligible. The doctor resented the remark, and said that he would not depart from his duty, for the whole of the House of Lords.. While the doctor was going on with the test the defendant said to hire, "I will give you .£5 to" get me out of it." Dr. M'Donnell immediately; had the defendant given in charge of the guard. He was afterwards allowed to go. "but gave a false address, and afterwards explained that he did so because he did not want the matter to como to his emoloyer's notice. On February 29 he calle'd on Dr. M'Donnell and apologised. The Magistrate imposed a. penalty of i£2D, with the alternative of 11 days' imprisonment. Mr. Muiv, who appeared on behalf of Lord Northclifre, said that the defendant represented that he had 'been twice rejected from the Army, and it was upon that statement that he was engaged.