RUSSIAN'S MISADVENTURES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 169, 17 July 1916, Page 7

RUSSIAN'S MISADVENTURES.

END IX DIPRISONMEXT. A Russian, who had had a rather chequered career since landing in Now Zealand some five months or so ago camp before Mr. E. U. Outten, S.M., this morning on a charge of having deserted from the 6hip Kia Ora in December, and on two charges of theft. According to the evidence he was a man of some education, and his own etorv was that he was in Oermany when the war broke out. Riid was for three months a prisoner of war. hut was eventually, released, and made his way to London, where his brother-in-law kept a small jiara<;o and cycle shop, he said. The first thing known of him in New Zealand was that lie had shipped on tho Kia Ora as a trimmer, and had deserted in December. Some time later he and a companion, who were posing as Russian journalists, wore arrested in the vicinity of Featherston military camp. They were interned, but Sch'ock was able to estahlish his Russian nationality, and was set free after two months' internment. About a fortnight ago he was arrested on tho present charges. Kvidenop relating to the theft charge was to the effect that accused worked for a time at G. Henning's jaragc. prior to his internment, and when inquiries were made concerning his nationality and movements it was found that among some goods lie had left with a person in Auckland were a number -iF motor and cvdp accessories, valued (it about €.S 10/. some of which coincide! in description with things which had

disappeared from Henning'a stock. Schock declared that he had browjht the things from London with him. l>lll after n considerable amount of evidence , had been taken, his Worship decided to ! convict, and accused wa< Rentenced to j three months' hard labour. J It transpired durinif the iicarinjr that tho prisoner had left a wife and two children in London in poor circumstances.