AN ABSOLUTE “WASTER.“

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 84, 9 August 1915, Page 8

AN ABSOLUTE “WASTER.“

TRADING ON THE UNIFORM. Per Press Association. Auckland, August 8. A man who hud abused the privileges of a soldier came before Mr Frazer, S.M., yesterday, on charges of drunkenness, misrepresentation and I attempting to obtain credit by misrep- [ restitution. The man, John Fleming,. I aged 31 years, was described by Subinspector Mcliveuey us an absolute “waster,” He had, the sub-insepetor said, enlisted in the expeditionary 1 force, but had been afterwards discharged. He, however, retained his uniform, and ho went round the citj' drinking. On July 21), ho went to A. M. Hamels and Co., tailors, and represented that ho was a non-commission-ed officer, and obtained the insignia of a sergeant-major (a crown and four stripes), which he had sown on his uniform. The Defence Department? subsequently learned of this, and on Friday the authorities had him arrested and stripped him of the uniform, giving, him civilian clothing, but did not punish him for his offence, because of the story he told about his dependents being in ill-health. After that, Fleming went to Daniels and Co. 1 and ordered a complete uniform, bearing the insignia of sergeant-major, the cost to be £l3. His demeanor, however ,made the tailors suspicious, and they learned that Fleming was an imposter. He had also managed to obtain £6 from the Patriotic Fund. The general report of him was that he was a waster, who made himself a nuisance about the towm by his drinking habits. Fleming offered u» defence, and his Worship remarked that anything that tended to bring disgrace on the uniform was looked on just now with utmost disfavor. He would be prohibited, and sentenced to live weeks’ hard labor.