A SOLDIER

NZ Truth, Issue 580, 29 July 1916, Page 6

A SOLDIER

But Is He a Man I

(From "Truth's" Auckland Rep).

A fair waster was brought to light at the Auckland S.AL's Court . on Monday when John Percival Grey, wearing the King's uniform admitted that he had fallen away m arrears on an order for the maintenance of his | wife. Senior- Sergeant Rukledge said that Grey had been arrested at Featherston, where he was under the name of Donald McGregor. His wife, who had ob- , tamed a separation order on the grounds of ill-treatment, was now ■ ■ IN A DYING CONDITION. The Probation Officer, the Rev. F. Jeffreys, characterised the case as being one of the worst he had come across. After the separation order was made Grey had paid the sum of £S 6a, after which his payments stopped and the wife and children had a hard struggle for existence. They had received assistance from Mrs. Grey's mother, also the Charitable Aid Board. Then the wife became ill and had to go Into the hospital and thence to the Costley Home where she was at present m a dying condition. Last May defendant had written a letter to his wife on V.M.C.A. lotterpaper and had dated the letter "Troopship Mokola" m order to lead his wife to believe he had left New Zealand. ' • ■ Grey tbid His Worship that he had often sent money to his wife by "a chap," and that tho reason he put "Mokoia", at the head of the letter was because he \ didn't want the police to. know where he was. Senior-Sergeant Rutledge said he was Informed that Grey's presence was required at a COURT-MARTIAL AT THE GAMP. His Worship had little to say, and remarking that Gretfa behaviour as a husband was about as bad as it could be, sentenced him to six months' imprisonment