NAVAL HERO'S LAPSE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10688, 7 September 1920, Page 7

NAVAL HERO'S LAPSE

CHARGE OF PETTY THEFT A MAN WHO ENTERED ZEEBRTTGGE Tho pathetic tight of a naval hero, privileged to wear a distinguished conduct medal, a French Croix do Guerre, a Medaillo Militaire, and a* 1914-15 Star, and -with aii honourable record of twelve years' service "in the Uritish Navy, in the dock' at the Police Court at Dunedin on a charge of theft, created a feeling of profound sympathy and wonderment in -Chose present. Chief Detective Bishop described the case as a, sad and regrettable one in many ways. Accused, whoso name was William Theodore Thompson, arrived in New Zealand in Juno .last, and went to .Dunedin, staying at Warwick House. Ho met a young lady and became engaged to her. She took him to 'her parents' home, and later on he stayed there. All arrangement* were made for the wedding, the banns being read out in church on two occasions. Accused obtained .£6O from his gill's mother, and set out to buy a house. With some of the money <be bought part of his bride's trousseau. He then stole a watch and chain' and cleared out. At one time he said ho was an architect carrying on business in Dunedin; then ho said ho was a diver, and on ono occasion borrowed underclothing from Mrs .Pledger iand brought them back wet to confirm his statement, probably having dipped them somewhere. The accused, continued the Cihief Detective, has a record of which any person would be proud. He had been in the Navy for twelve years, and during the latter part of the war was a petty officer; His French decorations were won for a raid on Zeebrugge. Accused was one of the crew of the submarine which entered the harbour a'head of the Vindictive for/the purpose of blocking the outlet.- The mission accomplished, the submarine was blown up, and the crew were in the water for over eleven hours before being rescued by motorboats. In addition to this accused was on the submarine which performed the wonderful feat of going up the Narrows oil the Dardanelles, diving under numerous rows of mines, and after entering the Dardanelles sinking several Turkish transports in the Sea of Marmora and running 'right under the eyes of Constantinople. ' Accused had gone to Lumsden and asked for a certain medicine from a. doctor, by which he thought ihe could commit srJßjde. The medicine whioh he was gfWn, however, was .harmless. The reason accused gave for coming to tho colony, narrated the Chief Detective, was that as..(ho had had four brothers killed in the war, and his mother having died as a result, ho had no relations in England, and had decided to come to New Zealand. A remand for a week was granted owing to accused's condition.