A "BACK-DOOR HERO."

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 19, 22 January 1916, Page 9

A "BACK-DOOR HERO."

DREW ON PATRIOTIC FUNDS. ; ttrom ■ crre-TO; city. STARTED TO-DRINK. AT TRBNTHAM. The practice of judging.a roan by his clothes has apparently opened glowing' possibilities during -war time for the person 'with a thirst, who has a glib, tongue, and ia taste for strong drink. This morning a 'young man nameti Frederick George Santos appeared before Mr. P. V.Erazer, SJkL, as an exponent of the art of. false pretence as it may be indulged in by a person with a lively wit and a khaki.uniform. He admitted that at Timaru a couple of months ago he obtained a suit of clothes at the ex|pense of the Timaru Patriotic Society, .nd that he had aleo got 20/ from a man in Christchureh s>y false pretences. A sketch of his career was given by Chief Detective MeMahon. "He is a professional loafer, or a "back-door 'hero, who lives on the reputation of other good fellows that have made a name at ■ the fronts said the detective. At the end of 1914, added Mr. MeMahon, Santos joined the Expeditionary Force -with the Sixth Reinforcements, and went to Trenthom. While there he was absent from camp without leave, and could not be traced.' It was subsequently ascertained that, he) had been staying at a Mrs. Brown's house in Wellington, and that he. Jeft there without paying for his board. 1 Ho called on a minister in Wellington -with a. story that 4ie had just received a wire from his mother, who had been taken seriously ill, and despite precautions taken by the minister to 'eeo that the fare to Auckland for the purpose of see-ing-the sick' mother was not mis-spent, Santos managed to get hold of an advance of £3 16/ in money, and then made his way to Blenheim. There he was known variously under the names of Sullivan, MeMahon, Kelly,.. and Mahoney. He stayed at a good, hotel there, md left behind him a Government j military coat and bandolier. He -went on to Pictoni and then to GbriatclmTeh. In the latter place he represented: that' he was a returned soldier, and through the offices of persons connected with the Patriotic Fund got a draw of £1, and also an order for hie board. The latter benefaction he did not take .advantage of. He moved on to Timaru in the guise of a returned hero, and there got a suit of clothes from the patriotic fund. A peculiar circumstance occurred at Timaru. The sum of £40—fonr £10 notes—was found in a passage of the private hotel at which Santos was etaying, and the find was advertised. Santos, claimed it, stating that /he had- previously found the money in the street, and had lost it in the hotel. Hβ eventually got the money, and moved Oα to Dunedin, where, deepite his possession of the £40, he got a small advance from the .patriotic fund. Ho then got-back to Auckland, and got an advance of £2 from the Auckland Patriotic Society. He also endeavoured to obtain assistance from Mr. George Court, of Newton, but Mr. Court discovered by telephone message that the man had just received assistance from the Patriotic Fund, and promptly turned him down. Prior to going into camp afci.iTrenthan\,> Santos, had bovne a good character. •. r,'- 1

Mr. W. Eackettj for ;the accused, stated that this peculiar part of the business .-was'that until He wept info camp Santos had' ■been of good behaviour, and his downfall and' subsequent behaviour was traceable to hie. having there contracted, the habit of drink ivg. Ho had got his military discharge with his character marked "good," and his discharge was due to his. being medically unfit. So he wasn't so lad ac the Chief Detective had painted. Also Santoe) stated that he did not represent'himself as n returned soldier,'but'the people to whom he applied assumed that of tlieir own volition, and he did not enlighten them. If a man enlisted to go to the war, and was unfortunate enough to fall sick, not through any faolfc Nof bia own, he wsus just as much entitled to the consideration of the patriotic funds <as the men who were fortunate enough id maintain their health,.and to , lsavc got to the fight and had got.woundei Mr.McMkhon: Bot the decasehe contracted was through his own fault. It Was the result of his own indiscretion. Mr." Hacketi stressed ■ the fact : that Santos was at work when he was arrested, and that his character before he went into camp had been good. Hie Worship ,etatod that previous good conduct could not excuse a series ;of false representations to; enable accused to be treated" like'a first offender. He would he sentenced to a month's imprisonment oh tiho one charge, and on the other woold be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called on, a. condition being thufc when he , got work lie should repay, by instalments the money he had oDtained toy improper means. He would also be prohibited.