"SPONGING" ON THE PUBLIC.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 88, 27 September 1915, Page 4

"SPONGING" ON THE PUBLIC.

Posing as a Wounded

Soldier.

Kcmandtd from the Pukekohe Police Court the man Mervyn Bernard, aged M years, who bad been posing in t'ukekohe as a wounded soldier, was brought up on Friday at the Auckland Police Court, before Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., on the charge that being a person not in his Majesty's naval, military, or defence forces, be had, without permission, worn the King's uniform in a manner likely to bring the uniform into contepmt. Senior-Sergeant Kutledge stated that Bernard waa working on the railway at Waiuku, having been discharged from Irentham in December last year. He used to knock off periodically, dress himself in a military overcoat and kbaki auit that be dad apparently managed to retain when he was discharged from Trentham, and then to go to Puktkohe or iome idjoining township possessing an hotel, arc! pose as a wuundid soldier returned trom the Dardanelles. For about a fortnight he tad done the rounds of the ho tils, being enthusiastially treated by people who believed his misrepresentations, and "shouted - " for him regardless of expense. Eventually he was unmasked and arrested by Constable Thornell, of Pukekohe. Ihe penalty for such imposition was £lO or a month's imprisonment, arid it was desired that severe punishment should be inflicted. Bernard Btated that he had really paid mostly for his own drink but admitted that he had once or twice stated that he was a returned soldier. He asked for leiuncy on the ground that he had a wife and two cbidren in Aucklaud, and stated that he was prepared to be prohibited.

Constable Thornell gave evidence on the lines indicated by the Sergeant. Mr Frazer, S.M., stated that this kind of masquerade at such times as these, when there was so many real soldiers in the country in need of assistance, was a scandalous thing that had to be stopped. The accused was in a good billet, and had no excuse for put'ing on the uniform except to "cadge" drinks. Such conduct would have to be severely penalised, and Bernard would be sentenced to three weeks' bard labour, and prohibited.