A BOGUS CAPTAIN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 205, 18 May 1918, Page 8

A BOGUS CAPTAIN

SYDNEY BROKER'S INFATUATION. A peculiar story of an elderly man's infatuation for a young woman was related at the Paddington Police Court, Svdnoy, on May 6, before Mr. Payten, S.M., when Charles Honrv Stratton, aged 51, a city broker, was charged, at the instigation of Sergeant Gordon Murdoch, of the Garrison Military Police, with having at Katoomba, on January 1 last, falsely represented himself to bo a returned soldier.

The accused pleaded guilty

! Sergeant Murdoch said that he had an interview with Stratton, at Glebe Point, about, two months a.go, and noticed at the time that he was wearing the. medallion and colours of the 18th Battalion. Ho informed Stratton that he was making inquiries as to his representing himself to bf a returned soldier, and informed him that, as he appeared to be 'sailinj pretty close within the law," he had better refrain in future from wearing soldiers' emblems. Subsequently, in consequence of another complaint, ho visited a' house in Willoughby Street, North Sydney, on April 30, and had a conversation with a young womas, who told him that in company with other young girls she had made the accused's acquaintance at Katoomba, prior to January last. Stratton represented himself as Cantain Stratton, a returned officer from Egypt. Stratton also told her that he had had his hand blown off in brittle and was wounded in, the leg by shrapnel. Rile believed his story and invited him to her home. Witness then entered the front room, where he found the accused asleep. When nuestioned about his impersonation at Katoomba, St.ratnon repliod, "Yes. sergeant, I am stiiltv. The fraud was committed at Katoomba last. New Year's Day. as I was infatuated with the girl living in this house, and T would do anything to win her love. It was an assumed pseitdo at the time, because I was madly in love with this girl, and you know that when a man is .madly in love with a girl he sits and talks and tells .her tales." "I had nothing to gain," Stratton added, "only this girl's love. I earn from ■£20 to ,£3O a week.'" Mr. Payten: iJcos he wear the emblems of the 18th Battalion in the public street? . Serjeant Murdoch: Yes. He has lost his right hand and has a false one in its place. Has he ever been to war at all?—"No; he has not." Mr. Payten found the accused guilty and ordered him to pay .£lO, in default two months' hard labour. Stratton: Can T have time to pay, sir? Mr. Payten (sharply): Time to pay! Was it a lie then you told tho officers I about your earniugs? Stratton: No, sir The accused was given two weeks to pay the fine.