Two Impostors.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 December 1915, Page 2

Two Impostors.

AJS IMFOaiOil'ti SI'OKY. 'ilie man. who represented that he was Corporal John Smyrk, of the 2nd iifcex Kogiment, uas sentenced to six months' imprisoumeiif at Clerkonw;li Police* Court on Saturday. A ircsh charge of obtaining money from the War Office, in addition to the old on? of impersonation, was brought against liim, ami Mr Muskett, who prosecuted, told tlie Court wliab lie described as the man's "romantic" History. , The inoivt curious feature of the case was that some of the family of tfTe real CorporuJ Smyrk were deceived, as were all the members of another family, 11cluding one to whom Corporal Smyrk was engaged to be married. Air .Uuskett said the man's prop.-i name wa.s Thomas Baker, and in* mother was in Court. in that name, in 1912, he was, as a soldier, convicted ot theft at Aldersliot, and discharger 'from tho Army. He jom.nl again, and la tor obtained assistance from a number ot people oy feigning to bo blind or otherwise wounded. On one occasion his story induced a MiHazel to take him in and' "give his assistance. Mr Hazel s daughter-in-law happened to be the real Smyrk's sister. When she saw him she saidi, "Why, he is the exact image of our Jack," and tho prisoner took liofd of that suggestion. The prisoner said he knew the real Smyrk. He asked iMr Hazel not to let them know, particularly his mother, but to keep it quiet for a day or two. He was taken t~> the real Mrs Smyrk, and for some time slie and Mrs Hazel believed iiTm. Tho prisoner even accurately describe! the tattoo marks on tho real Corporal Smy,rk, but when asked to show tTiem said the Germans had taken them off. The only mistake lie made, said Mr. Muskett, was when asked under what names he attested. He said "John Smyrk," I hare only one Christian name, ' The real Corporal Smyrk had two, and used them botJi in attesting. It was after his last remand that the man confessed his deception to a detective, and told him he was Thomas Baker.