BORROWED PLUMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17158, 10 November 1917, Page 7

BORROWED PLUMES

A NEW ZEALAND IMPOSTEB. DOUBTS AS TO SANITY. ■* Press Association—By Telegraph—'Copyright. '"* Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. * SYDNEY, November 9. A most amazing imposition has been - * revealed by the arrest of Frederick John Betcke, charged with unlawfully wearing military uniform. Hβ appeared in court in the fnll uniform of a brigadier-general, with many < The police gave evidence that the only , war experience Betcke ever had was as a trooper in the New Zealand force in South > "* Africa, when, owing to an injury to hia hip, the Imperial Government allotted hie a pension of one shilling per day. Betcke ' " , told the police that he was born in New *>. Zealand, and was the adopted eon of a fullTblooded German, Otto Betcke. For.the past sis years he has .been posing as a i military officer. At first he promoted him- \ t self to lieutenant-colonel. He gave mili- 1 tary evenings to influential citizens m the "* western suburbs. Finally he assumed the rank of general, and appointed a returned soldier whom he met in the train as his , A.D.C., and presented him with official ' papers promoting him to be captam. J Betcke headed- recruiting processions in Leichhardt in full regalia, and mingled with the best social circles. His downfall came when attending a garden fete at Hurstville, where he was arrested. He pleaded guilty; He followed the call- ' ing of an electrician. He was. remanded " v for medical observation, owing to donbt* as to his sanity. t