NEW ZEALAND CAPTAIN'S LAPSE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 15, 18 July 1923, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND CAPTAIN'S LAPSE

I : . .-..••• -- ;■ -.■■•■ ■ --■ - ••■ iThe son of an Auckland business'inan,' " said to have been the first man-to-en-list in the New Zealand Eipeditionary " Force in .the Great War, John. Over- ' ton ;Sm|th, aged 30/ rjleaded -guilty,-»t - the Quarter Sessions yestirdav-'-W -two".-"■ charges of . having; forged . and .uttered :.' orders for the delivery of goods. ~ -~-'- - .Mr. Abieail who appeared-for-the-de-• fence, said that Smith's. order..ofllehliat-__. ment.in the New Zealand.army;wae:Np. - ; - -1: In' the early' days' of the war -hi' served' in Samoa, and aftenTardsi'on'.lho.:;: battlefields of Eurbce. He :wa»Jtwice.', vrounded, once eassed, once: blown-.-up,-™" and had been laid, up with.pleurisy'.and- i enteric. - From the ranks he had;reached'-;; the position-of temporary captain. '-••-■■■ ■'•■' In anewer. to Mr. Abisall, the constable:... who had arrested Smith said thai'-hjs ":( inquiries had led him to the belief That ; Smith hid been a dup«. - .-~^--.. :^../." '. In-binding. Smith ove.r. to! come^uplJor ■'-;. sentence if .called upon, ..Judze Beyan . warned Smith! 'hat the-arm.o£-*hV.XiiT'•.'.'-' would be ready'tc act jf'.h.e againMapsj^..,.!