HIS UNIFORM DISGRACED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4003, 9 August 1915, Page 7

HIS UNIFORM DISGRACED.

KX-CCINTIX<;ENTER’B TROI'IfLES. (Press Association Telegram.) AUCKLAND. Aug. 8. A man who had abused the privileges of a soldier came before Air Eraser. S.AL. yesterday on charges of drunkenness, misrepresentation, and attempting to obtain credit by misrepresentation. Tho man, John Fleming, aged 31 years, was described by Sub-Inspector Me-llvoney as an absolute waster. He had, the riuh-Inspectnr .said, enlisted in the Expeditionary Force, but bad been afterwards discharged. lie, however, retained his uniform, and lie went round the city drinking. On July 29 he went to A. M. Daniels and Co., tailors, and represented that he was a nou-eommissioned officer and oiltain ed. the. insignia of a sergeant-major —a crown and four stripes -which lie .had sewn on his uniform. ibe Defence ’Department subsequently learned of this and. on Friday, the. authorities acre ted him. giving him civilian clothing, but did not inmidi him lor bis offence because of the story he told about his dependents being in ill health. After that, Fleming went t"> Daniels and Co. and ordered a- complete uniform-for himseli bearing the insignia of sergeant-major, the cost to |,e ”£l3. His demeanor, however, made the tailors suspicious, and they later rang up tlie-Del cnee Departmentand I earner I that Fleming was an imposter. He bad also managed to obtain £6 from the Patriotic loud. The general, report of him was that he was a waster who marie himseli a nuisance about the town by his drinking habits. Fleming offered no rlefeu e. and h-s Worship remarked that anything t.ia tended, to bring disgrace on the uniform was looked, on just now n ith tinutmost disfavor. lie would he p>°fi.ibited and sentenced to live weeks' hard labor.