A TERRITORIAL DODGER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1189, 27 December 1913, Page 4

A TERRITORIAL DODGER.

An unusual territorial prosecution took place at a Main Trunk township last week. A territorial wrote to the Wanganui Defence Office, asking for leave from drill for a period, as he was unable to drill owing to an injured arm. A reply was sent that he must get a medical certificate of exemption. A few days later the exemption came to baud, at Wanganui, and what was the surprise of the officer in charge to see that the certificate recommended leave for twelve months. However, as everything appeared in order, he passed it on to the office staff, to be entered up in the ordinary way. An office official subjected the document to a closer scrutiny, and though not posing as a handwriting expert, his suspicions as to the whole of the certificate having been filled in by the one hand were aroused. Inquiries were at once instituted, ane it was then discovered that after the medical man had finished with the certificate, the “two” mouths he had granted had been altered to “twelve” months. The matter was at once put in the hands ot the police, and proceedings taken, the sequel to which was the inflicting of a fine of ,£lO and costs, together with a severe talking to from Mr Haselden, S.M. The fine was paid at once.