SCOTT TRAGEDY.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1922, Page 1

SCOTT TRAGEDY.

A REMARKABLE STORY. ALLEGED WAR RECORD. DUNEDIN POLICE BLUFFED. fBY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION^ OHRISTCHFRCH, January 15. The real name of the iii«n, Edward Theodore Scott, the husband of Janet Scott, who was found asphyxiated at Sumner last Sunday week, is William Theodore Thompson, and he is at pre'sont on probation in respect to two charges of theft at Dunedin in 1920. When he appeared at the Dunedin Police Court to answer the charges, Chief Detective Bishop described the case as a “sad aiid regrettable one in many ways.” Accused, lie said, arrived in New Zealand in June, 1920, and came to Dunedin staying at Warwick House. He met a young lady and became engaged to her. She took him to her parents’ homo, and later on he stayed there. All arrangements were made for the wedding, the banns being read /nit in church on two occasions. Accused obtained £6O from the girl’s mother and set out to buy a house With some of the money he bought part of his bride’s trousseau, and spent the rest of the money on himself. He then stole the watch and chain and cleared out. At one time the accused said he was an architect carrying on business in Dunedin; then he said he was a diver and one one occasion borrowed underclothing from Mrs Pledger and brought them back wet to confirm his statement, probably having dipped them somewhere “The accused,” continued the ChiefDetective, “has a record of which any person would be proud. He has been in the Navy for 12 years, "and during the latter part of the war as a petty officer. He possessed the D.C.M., the Croix de Guerre, the Medaille Militaire and 191.4-15 Star. The French decorations were won for the raid on Zeebrugge. Accused was one of the crew of the submarine which entered the harbour ahead of the Vindictive foi the purpose of blocking the outlet. The mission, accomplished, the submarine was blown up, and the crew were in tlic water for some hours before being rescued by motor boats. In addition to this, accused was on the submar%ie which performed the wonderful feat of going up the Narrows of -the Dardanelles, diving under numerous rows of mines, and after sinking several Turk-, ish transports in tho Sea of Marmora, running right under the eyes of Constantinople. Accused had gone to Lumsden, said Mr Bishop, and asked for certain medicine from a doctor by which be thought he could commit suicide. The medicine which he was given was harmless. The reason accused nave for coming to the Dominion, “narrated the Chief Detective, was that as lie had had four brothers killed iu the war, and his mother having died as a result, he had no relatives in England and decided to come to New Zealand.

This extraordinary story, as regards the war service, is on Thompson’s own admission to Detective-Sergeant Quarformain at Christchurch, absolutely untrue, yet lie succeeded in “bluffing” the Dunedin police thoroughly. Before accused was convicted, Chief-Detective Bishop said he had made exhaustive inquiries into his war recard, and as a result had not the slightest doubt that it was true. Accused had promised that if be were given a chance he would keep straight and give up drinking. He was quite satisfied to tako the word of honour of the accused, .that he would give up drink. The Magistrate, speaking to the accused said “I do not intend to deliver a sermon to you. You have an excellent war record of which any person might he proud. You have suffered severely through the wan by losing your sister, your brothers and mother and no doubt these matters had considerable influence in placing you in your present position. T intend to give you a chance. I am sure you could become a member of the community we would be proud to have here. Accused was admitted to probation for a period of two years, and is still on probation. Before being arrested in Dunedin, Thompson was employed in one of the Christchurch clubs as a porter, and distinguished himself by wearing a large number of medal ribbons across his breast Some of the members of the club became suspicious of his war record, and be was compelled to leave the club He then hired a taxicab and motored through from Christchurch to Dunedin and he first came under the notice of the local police when the taxi-cab driver reported that Thompson bad not paid him for the journey. He was soon afterwards arrested in Dunedin on the charges of theft.