MAN WHO BROKE PAROLE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 236, 24 June 1918, Page 6

MAN WHO BROKE PAROLE

EX-SOLDIER'S TALE OF CAFi'URE ON THE HIGH SEAS. TJiat lie had been captured by the Germans on the high seas, landed with others in Bolivia, mid released on parole, which he broke and came to England, vas the story told by George Henry Ratcliffe, aged 40, who was Diunnded at the Guildhall, London, on a charge of obtaining money by false pretences from Philip Gardner, the accountant of the Commercial Bank of Australia, Bishopsgate. Mr. Gardner Eaid the accused called at the bank- on March 21. He said that he was a discharged soldier of the Australian Imperial Forces, and was undergoing medical treatmeot as a result of being gassed in France. He also jai'l that he vas short of money, but that ho had an account with their branch in Sydney to the extent of about und lie asked tho. witness if lie would telegraph for the balance to be remitted to Lordon. Noticing his wound stripes aud ribbons the witness believed what he had said, pjid agreed to his recm-ast

The accused called again on March 25. There tad been no reply to the message, and at the prisoner's request the manager advanced him £1. Later, the bank had a reply from Sydney, and when the prisoner called again he was told that there was no such account at that branch.' He then said, "Oh. I forgot to tell you I was taken pi'isoner.by the Germans while on board the s.s. on Hie high seas by the German cruiser Leipsie. I was released on parole with others and landed at Bolivia. I broke my parole, and to avoid identification in the tveut of my being taken prisoner, I changed 'i.y namo to Frederick George Ratcliffe. If you telegraph again it will be, all right." He then asked for a further ndvnnoe to enable him to get to Birmingham, ''he wit-, iit-ss made intiuiries and refused to make irny further advance. An Australian officer who was -present in court slated .that the accused was not an Australian but a Birm-Jsham man. Ho was remanded.