SOLDIER IN DISGRACE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 82, 10 July 1916, Page 2

SOLDIER IN DISGRACE.

SATURDAY NIGHT'S SCENE IN BROADWAY,

COURT PROCEEDINGS.

A great deal of excitement was caused in Broadway on Saturday evening when a soldier, in uniform, named Paul Zimmerman, resisted being arrested bv Constable Robertson. It appeared that the man bad been around town during the day and had been treated too kindly by his friends, and in consequence had molested women and girls asking "the loan of a match etc Constable Robertson warned the soldier on Saturday evening, and asked a man, who was in company with Zimmerman, to take him home.. *or his kindly advice the constable receivable, and he decided to arrest the man. Zimmerman, however, resisted arrest, and fought, like a madman. The Constable showed his superiority imd threw the man on the ground He lp W as summoned, and after the handcuffs had been fitted, Zimmerman was carried to the lock-up. As the outcome of the scene on Saturday night, Zimmerman appeared before Messrs C. D. Sole, and J Masters J P 's, at the Stratford Magistrate's Court this morning to answer t„ the following charges: (1) drunkenness; (2) using obscene, and indecent. language in a, public place, to wit, Jwway; and (8) resisting Constable Robertson in the execution of his duty. Accused elected to be dealt with lumniarily on the second charge, and pleaded guilty on all counts Sergeant Dale, who conducted the proceedings on behalf of the police, said it was rather a bad case Accused, who was a returned soldiei, had seen service on Gall.poh lemnSl ,la, where he had contracted fever. He had returned to the Dominion about nine weeks ago, during that time had been wandering all around the Xorth Island. He had also been around Stratford a good deal. Accused, said that he had not received anv money since arriving m .Mew Zealand, as he had : lost his pay book ihe man had no money, and if >hfi Kactj reported his case ils be would' the money 'due h him./'Hy''had been drinking in Stratford on I Saturday, arid had molested women asking "for matches. The Constable had spoken to accused and a'flked his friend to take him home. He did not go home, and after a struggle with the police, he was handcuffed and was carried to the lock-up. Sergeant Dale said it seemed as though Zimmerman was travelling around the country on his uniform.- Accused was not able to explain his position. It seemed as though accused did not care for his uniform till finally he had dragged it in/the gutter and disgraced it. In answer to a question from the Bench, Sergeant Dale stated thai the accused was a CJerman-tborn Britisher. The Bench,, 'talring. into consideration ,that f 'afecused'!' 4iad ><been in the, loek-up suitfe 'Saturday' evening, convicted and discharged him on the drunkenness charge vSmlpoEed a. fine of £3, in default three months' imprison-, ment on the second 'charge, and> entered a conviction and handed him over to the Military authorities on the third charge.

Tlie presiding Justices said they wished to draw the attention of the police to the number of returned soldiers who partook of liquor in too liberal a manner. The charge or resisting the police, was a case for the Military authorities to cieai with, for, ad the Sergeant of police had said, the man had disgraced his uniform. It was hard that men of decent society; who had offered their services for their Country, should he disgraced, for when a man disgraced himself, they had to bear their share.