A WARNING.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 204, 6 May 1915, Page 4

A WARNING.

CIRCULATING FALSE WAR NEWS. OLD LADY PINED. AUCKLAND, May 5. At the Police Court, a widow wojnan, named Isabella Morpeth, was charged with sending a telegram addressed to a resident of Frasertown, Hawke's Bay, contrary to the War Regulations. Lieut.-Col. Hume, the officer commanding the Military District said the case was brought to stop the prevalent and deplorable pracice of circulating incorrect reports of casualties among our troops A telegram put in by the defendant on Friday read: "Commander Plugge and seven hundred New Zealanders killed." The message was stopped by tfhe censor. Defendant pleaded not guilty and : stated that she heard the news from a gentleman in the street, whose adj dress she did not know. This man heard it from another, who said he saw it on the "Herald" Board. Mr Fraser, S.M., said the defend-, ant's explanation bore tlhe impress of truth but it was most indiscreet. As she was an old lady, a nominal fine of £1 and costs was imposed. Th e Magistrate remarked that perhaps it would be a lesson to people circulating such rumours, to learn that the maximum fine for such an offence is £IOO.