Impostors in Khaki

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 June 1915, Page 4

Impostors in Khaki

At Westminster Police Court Joseph Henry "Orchard. 24, in full khaki uuiiforin, |\vas committed for triail on charges of fraud. His story that he had been woiwidcd at La Bassee led to his arrest at Victoria station. Witnesses now gave evidence of having assisted the man in the belief that ho had been -wounded. On one occasion a lady. sympathizer paid for the hire of a bath chail\ in which he was wheeled round the Zoological Gardens a.s a helpless invalid, his 'ett leg being swathed in bandages as it was al the timeoorl r his arrest. When bandages were removed at the- police station it was aw.ertained that'there was absolute] v nothing tho matter with him. Lieutenant Walter Wild, of the 29th (.Recerve) Battery, Royal Field Artillery, deposed that the prisoner had been absent- withoui ieave since .March t>, and tiiat lie had n-.-ver been to cue front. At HuW-sttveb Police Court Frederick Krcst, a y>:m>i, private m flic 10th London Regiment, "was charged with desertion and with endeavouring to proeuro charitable contributions by false pretences. Mr James Gordon Elliott, business manager of the Aldwyeh Theatre, stated that on Thursday evening last week the prisoner applied to him at the uoxofh'ee for ix complimentary ticket. His head was bandaged, he appeared to have only one arm, and lie had three ot his toes shot oil. The witness gave him a 4s ticket, but, feeling suspecious, watched him. Lat<-r in the eyenmg the prisoner, while hi the bar, dropped his stick, and on stooping to pick it up bunt both his legs. The witness was then convinced that he was malingerer, and informed the.police. At the police station it was found that there was nothing whatever the matter with the prisoner, and that one jof his arms was inside his pants. ±±c had been a deserter since, February 17. Mr Graham Campbeli'feentenced the prisoner to three months' imprisonment with hard labojur. London Times.