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Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 52, 7 February 1916, Page 7

Posing as one of the wounded who had returned from Gallipoli and narrating hair-breadth escapes from death that existed only in his imagination, a- soldier in uniform had a good time in Pukckohe for several days. He played the part splendidly, carrying his left arm in a sling. He was welcomed as a hem, and made his headquarters' at the Pukckohe Hotel. He worked upon th ( > feelings of relatives of a Pukckohe officer who was killed in action at Anzac, and re-

lated in graphic style how he had stood beside the officer when the latter wad hit, ami how the officer had asked him to deliver to the bereaved ones his hast message. The great stories of his doings on the field of battle, however, led to his downfall. Constable Watson compared dates, and, finding inaccuracies, interviewed the man. The latter admitted never having been to the war, and that he recently enlisted, having been only in I lie training camp as a member of the 3rd Baitalion of the Rifle Brigade. He had over-stayed his final leave, which had expired on January 3, and had gone there from Auckland. Ho wag brought before Mr K. C. Cutten, S.M., and charged, under the name of Harry Sparrow, alias Sparks, with being a rogue and vagabond, and. further, with fraudulently representing

himself as a returned wounded soldier, by which he gained benefits. Accused, pleading guilty, requested the magistrate to lot him return to camp, giving as In's reason for imposing on the credulous that he had been drinking. The magistrate ordered the accused to he handed over to the military authorities, who signified their willingness to take him back.