THE D.S.M.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16749, 2 June 1922, Page 9

THE D.S.M.

A PRISONER’S CLAIM. QUESTIONED BY JUDGE. When Albert C'uncly, a smart looking, well-dressed your.g man who had been i taxi-driver in Christchurch, came up for sentence before his Honor Mr Justice Adams ir the Supreme Court to-dav. for stealing a motor-car, M!• C. S. Thomas, who appeared for him, said that lie had a good record of service in the navy during the wai. and had won the I>.S.M. Mr Thomas explained that Cundv got in with bad companions. They induced him to sell motor-car lent to him, and he went to Australia, with the money. They got the money and loft him to take the blame. Mr A. T. Dormelly, Crown Prosecutor. said that it was true that the prisoner had become associated with two thieves, who were before the Court .some time ago. Nothing was known about him : there was nothing against him. His TTormr examining the- discharge from th« Navy, said that the letters ” D S M.” wore written in a. different handwriting from that of the signature. and were written at a later date. The prisoner said that the decoration was conferred on him for saving an officer’s life in the North Sea when a vessel had been torpedoed. Mr Thomas said that the prisoner was injured. lie went out of the Navy on pension. His conduct in the New. therefore, must have been good. Mr Donnelly pointed out that the discharge did not give the* u Gazette ” authority for the decoration. His ITonor said tliat he could not attach any value to the entry as to the decoration without further evidence. Honours of that kind were given by the Empire to individuals in recognition of high services, and they should bo jealously guarded. He was not certain that he should order that then book -should he impounded, but steps should be taken to prevent represent utions being made bv presenting it. if the entry was not genuine. It was strange that the prisoner had no record of any communication on the subject from the Navy or the War Office. Air A. H. Holmes, Registrar of the Court, said that there was an “ Admiralty Register ” in Wellington. His Honor deferred passing sentence until Wednesday, iu order that the “ Register ” might be consulted, to discover if it contains any reference to tlv« decoration being awarded to the prisoner. ___________