AN UNWISE STATEMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 201, 28 September 1916, Page 5

AN UNWISE STATEMENT.

MAN CHARGED WITH PERSONATION. UNDER THE ARMY ACT. Yesterday afternoon a man named James Fraser, alias James Knight Vail, appeared at the Taihape Court before Messrs J. P. Aldridge and M. M. Carpenter, J.P.'s, and charged that on or about September 25th at Mangaweka he did falsely represent himself to be a particular man, to wit, a Sergeant-Major Fraser, of the Permanent Staff of the New Zealand Military Forces, and A\as thereby guilty of personation. The charge, it may be added, was laid under the provisions of the "Army Act." Constable Esson stated that the man had been staying at the hotel at Mangaweka, and had stated that he was Sergeant-Major Fraser, and had been sent by the Department to round up shirkers. He understood that the Defence people at Palmers ton North were not anxious to press the charge provided the accused reported to them at Palmerston North straight away. Staff Sergeant-Major Tuckey gave similar evidence.

Accused stated that lie had registered at the hotel as J. Fraser, and while staying there, one individual was particularly anxious to find out what he was at Mangaweka for. One day, in the dining room, this individual turned to him and said: "I know what you're here for. You're looking for shirkers," and he replied "You've just struck it." Accused further stated that he had nothing to gain by this, and had been a staff sergeant-major at Auckland. It was more a foolisn utterance than anything else, but he realised now that it was unwise.

Constable Esson also pointed out that there was no suggestion of material gain. The charge was withdrawn on the understanding that the accused reports at Palmerston North by the end of the week.