MONS VETERAN’S LAPSE

Taranaki Daily News, 1 June 1927, Page 9

MONS VETERAN’S LAPSE

guilty of burglary SAD STORY OF DISTRESS TOLD. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Waimate, Last Night. A sad story of distress was told by James Bell, a veteran of Mons, who pleaded guilty before Justiees this morning to breaking and entering a cordial factory and stealing four dozen empty bottles valued at four shillings. Accused stated he was a bottle gatherer and had a wife and two children to keep, who were staying at an Oamaru hotel. He had found business dull in Oamaru and had come to Waimate, but owing to firms to which he sent bottles delaying payment, which sometimes necessitated his travelling for it, he had been able to keep only his wife and children, living himself on bread and dripping. He did not drink. Accused’s wife had written for board money, and he decided to help himself to the empty bottles. He had been eleven years in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and was wounded four times. He was promoted corporal by Sir Douglas Haig for bravery, was mentioned five times in despatches, held the Mons medal with laurels, British medal with two bars, French Medal Militaire, and was recommended by seven different officers for the V.C. at St. Quentin. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.