A BOGUS “HANDY MAN.”

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12428, 18 February 1901, Page 3

A BOGUS “HANDY MAN.”

a simple Sailor in trouble. A .''young man named .William Henry Weight was brought up at the Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning on a. charge I of having deserted from H.M.S. Mildura, at Lyttelton, on Jan. 2. , According to the story he told, however, he is not a deserter,' and never belonged to the Mildura, or any other warship. He ; said.that he came from Georgetown, Tasmania, but had been a sailor nearly all his life. He came, over to New Zealand' in ■&» barque Eureka, and subsequently went on to the Oronga, from which he was.. discharged. ...... 'ln Christchurcli, he says, he met a sailor from H.M.S. Mildura, named Harry'Daw* son, who suggested that they should change clothes. Weight, thinking that it would be a fine thing.to strut about the streets ,arid pose as a "handy man*" fell in .with the suggestion and'kept up the deception until he was arrested as a deserter, with •the name "Mildura" on his cap. The Magistrate, Mr H. W. Bishop, said it did not eeem reasonable that a man would change a'good suit of clothes for one which got him into.trouble, and. Weight.replied that he had no idea that : the transaction would lead him into trouble. Mr Bishop: Even if you are not a deserter, you have only yourself to thank for the mess into • which you have ■ been dragged. A man who would do such a foolish thing as to exchange his clothes for a uniform of the Royal Navy must expect trouble. The accused was remanded till Monday to enable the police to make inquiries. Weight's intellect does not appear to be very bright, but the uniform he wore certainly became him, and; he looked every inch a British sailor.