N.Z. IMPOSTOR CAUGHT

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1928, Page 9

N.Z. IMPOSTOR CAUGHT

SAID HE WAS HOOD'S BROTHER

SYMPATHY OVER FLIGHT'S

RESULT.

FETED, THEN ARRESTED

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, January 27,

The fact that his name was Hood enabled a criminal with a New Zealand record to batten for a few days on the fate of Captain Hood, who, with Lieut. Moncrieff, undertook the ill-fated flight across the Tasman. Only last week the impostor was arrested in Sydney on a charge of failing to pay for meals and accommodation at one of the city's largest and most expensive hotels. The man in question had put up at the hotel just prior to the beginning of the flight by the daring airmen. But it was not until he knew they had gone that he spread the information that he was Captain Hood's brother.

He was somewhat feted on the first day of the flight, and left the hotel that night ostensibly to go to a place where official news of the flight's progress would be available. He returned late that night, apparently very disconsolate, and was the subject of much sympathy by other persons staying at the same house. Next morning he stated that he had been unable to sleep all night, worrying over the fate of his brother, and.' though a week of his stay was tip, the manager, rather than worry him at such a time, refrained from presenting the bill, which amounted to a trifle more than £20. In fact he was entertained by other boarders and some of them were foolish enough to lend him money.

More daring still was an exploit he put over at the expense of the Sydney "Sun" newspaper, when a reporter sought information regarding the possibilities of the flyers having landed somewhere along the New Zealand coast. In the issue of that paper that afternoon appeared an exclusive interview with Captain Hood's "brother," in which the latter stated that Hood knew nothing about Morse nor had he any knowledge of wifeless. He expressed the opinion that his "brother" would be found somewhere in the Rimutakas—a district in which, he said, "my brother and I have hunted and camped on many occasions." Next day, however, Captain Hood's "brother" became pessimistic. He appeared with a black hatband and armband, and wore a black tie. Sympathisers became mbre attentive, and everything was done to take his mind off his "brother's" fate. That night, however, he disappeared from the hotel, and they feared that the worry might have sent him off his head. But no. Captain Hood's "brother" turned up at a swagger residential hotel at Darlinghurst, and, simulating intense gloom, took up his quarters there.

In Darlinghurst, however, they are "hard-boiled." Without some proof they were not open to take the man on his own face value. Consequently they communicated with detectives. At the same time the manager of the city hotel awakened to the possibility of his exguest being an impostor, and afso swore a warrant for his arrest. Detectives acted promptly, with the result that the impostor was soon under arrest, and the same afternoon was taken before the Court.

He admitted the imposition and was sentenced to three menths* imprisonment, it being stated in Court that he had a formidable record for the same tvpe of crime in New Zealand.