KILLED IN ACTION.
John Brown Smith, reported killed in action, was the elder son of Mr Colvin Smith, of Opoho road, North-east Valley, and went from Auckland, where he had been engaged in the painting trade, with the main body. Another son, who left Christchurch with the main body, was wounded twice at Gallipoli and once in France. Although he has 11 active service scars, he is progressing favorably, and is expected to return to the Dominion shortly. Letters received from these two lads state that they met each other quite casually in Edinburgh about six months ago. -Evening Star, 14/5/1917.
John Brown Smith was killed during a relatively quiet time on the Western Front. It was a time of preparation for the upcoming assault on Messines, which was to be opened with the explosion of mines under German positions. John, in December, 1916, had been transferred to the NZ Tunneling Company. He was reported missing on April 23rd, and later as killed in action.
Private Alfred James Smith (wounded third time) left New Zealand with the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He was educated at the George Street School. He resided at Opoho road for a long while, after which he left for the West Coast, front where he enlisted. -Otago Witness, 19/7/1916.
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW ZEALAND, WESTLAND DISTRICT (Greymouth Registry).
IN DIVORCE.
TO ALFRED JAMES SMITH, the husband of ELLEN SMITH, of the town of REEFTON.
TAKE NOTICE that a citation has been issued out of the Supreme Court of New Zealand at Greymouth, citing you to appear and answer the petition of Ellen Smith, of Reefton, aforesaid, wherein she prays for a dissolution of her marriage with you on the ground of desertion, and such citation intimates that in default of your so doing the Court will proceed to hear the said petition and to pronounce sentence therein notwithstanding your absence: Now, therefore, take notice that for the purpose aforesaid you are within twenty-eight days after the Sixteenth day of APRIL, 1920, to attend in person, or by your solicitor, at the Supreme Court office at Greymouth, and there to enter an appearance without which you will not be allowed to address the Court at any stage of the proceedings.
A copy of the said citation and petition will be supplied to you on your applying for the same at the Supreme Court office at Greymouth.
Dated this thirteenth day of February, 1920. J. W. McINDOE, Deputy Registrar..
Friends of the respondent are particularly requested to forward to him the foregoing advertisement.
This abstract was extracted by Thomas Phillips, Solicitor for Petitioner.
The petitioner’s address for service is at the office' of William Joseph Joyce, Solicitor, Albert Street, Greymouth. -Greymouth Evening Star, 31/3/1920.
IN DIVORCE.
Ellen Smith proceeded, on the grounds of desertion, for a divorce against Alfred James Smith. Petitioner was represented by Mr W Joyce.
Ellen Smith said she lived at Eeefton and Was the wife of Alfred James Smith. She was keeping a boarding house at Globe Hill with her husband in 1912. He was disinclined to work and said he was going to work in Christchurch. Nothing had been heard of him since. Inquiries were made and the matter was placed in the hands of the police and an order was issued for his arrest. There was one child of the marriage, a girl, aged nine years. She had been maintaining herself since as a cook.
Hannah Everal Robins said that, she knew petitioner for some years. She was a neighbour of hers at Globe Hill in 1910 and remembered her husband going away in that year. She had never seen or heard of petitioner's husband ever since.
His Honour made a decree nisi to be made absolute within three months. Respondent was ordered to pay costs on the lower scale. -Grey River Argus, 24/6/1920.
POLICE METHODS.
COMPLAINT MADE IN COURT.
MAN HARASSED FOR FIVE HOURS
CHRISTCHURCH, March 10
A complaint about the treatment his client had received at the detective station in Christchurch before he was arrested on a maintenance charge was made by Mr R. Twyneham to Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., in the Maintenance Court to-day. Mr Twyneham complained that his client, Alfred James Smith, had been harassed by detectives for five hours though he was not under arrest at the time. Smith was charged with failing to comply with the terms of a maintenance order and it was alleged that he was in arrears to the extent of £70 13s.
The maintenance officer (Mr P. J. Jones) said that a warrant had been out for a certain James Smith since 1927. The present defendant had appeared before the court a fortnight ago, but his solicitor had claimed that the wrong man had been arrested, and he had been released on bail. “Since then I have submitted a file to the Central Otago police to see if they cannot trace the man who is the real James Smith,” said Mr Jones, “but this file has not been returned. I would ask that the matter be adjourned, though, I understand, Mr Twyneham has subpoenaed witnesses from all over the country for the case to-day.”
“It seems to me that Mr Jones wants to find the real James Smith before he goes on with this case against my James Smith,” said Mr Twyneham. “I can prove in every conceivable way — by handwriting, occupation, and locality — that this is not the man wanted.”
Selia May Haslock said that an order had been made against a James Smith on July 1, 1919 for the maintenance of a child. She was quite certain that the present Smith was the right one.
To Mr Twyneham witness said that Smith had been living in Christchurch in 1918, when she met him. He had just come home from the war, where he had been wounded in the leg.
Mr Twyneham produced several letters from different places which, witness said, were not in the hand writing of the man she knew.
Mr Jones said that he had the mother of plaintiff at court, but it was no use calling her because at an identification parade she had picked out quite the wrong person as the right Smith.
Mr Twyneham said that his client had a remarkable memory for dates, though he could not write very much. He had landed at Auckland in May, 1918, and had gone straight through to Dunedin. In October, 1918, he went to work on the railways in Central Otago, where he stayed until 1920. He then went back to Dunedin and in February, 1928, he came to Christchurch and was married. The “wanted” Smith was a rabbit-trapper. This Smith was a labourer. The former had been at Hamner Springs when the summons was issued, but the latter had been in Central Otago. The former had written letters from all over the country, but the latter was a very poor writer.
“This is a very unfortunate case for my client. The police were, of course, placed in a difficult position,” said Mr Twyneham. “I am not in a position to cavil at their action in arresting him, but my client does make one complaint against them. He was taken to the police station on the night of February 20 at about 6 o’clock, and he was detained in the hands of the detectives from then until nearly 11 p.m. without food. As he is a man who has only two meals a day he was obliged to fast until the next morning. When he asked for food he was told he would sleep better without it. He does not say he was bullied or brow beaten, but he does complain that he was harassed practically the whole time he was in the detectives’ hands. He immediately offered the police the fullest information of his history and his movements and asked them to verify his statements. The police contrived throughout the whole of the evening, by falsely pretending that they were in possession of information they did not have, to get him to admit his identity with the person wanted. He was not under arrest at the time. The police even went so far as to get him to give a sample of his handwriting. Then they took it from the room and came back and swore that it was identical with the writing of the man they 'wanted.'”
Mr Jones said it was odd that the defendant should have a war wound in his leg similar to that of the “wanted” Smith, and that he should be like him in appearance.
“If I wasn’t like him I would not be here,” replied the defendant.
“If this man was not under arrest he should not have been kept at the station all night without a meal,” said the magistrate. “If he was under arrest he should not have been questioned. Whichever way you look at it his treatment was wrong.”
After hearing further evidence, the magistrate dismissed the case. -Otago Witness, 18/3/1930.
Alfred John Smith is not a common name, but is not unique. "Our" Alfred did have a war wound in his leg. He suffered a shrapnel wound in his right knee while on Gallipoli which took him seven months to recover from. In June, 1916, he suffered a gunshot wound in his right foot and was out of the war until December, 1917. In March, 1918, Alfred was put in front of a Medical Board and declared to be unfit for active service. He embarked on the SS Athenic the following month.
Again, there is a possibility that the man in court below is a different Alfred James Smith. That it is him is supported by his place of death, Christchurch, some years later.
MISSING GOODS
FROM A STEAMERS HOLD
WATERSIDERS CHARGED
Four waterside workers, named respectively George Fred Shinner, John Udall, Alfred James Smith, and Colin Campbell, were charged before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., to-day with the theft, on or about 31st August last, of cutlery and silverware of the value of £250, the property of the Federal Steamship Company, from the hold of the s.s. Dorset.
Other charges in connection with the accused were the theft, on 1st September, of a case of stainless knives, forks, and spoons, value £250, the property of the African S.S. Company. There was a charge against George Shinner of theft on 22nd November of two pairs of silk stockings, valued at 30s, the property of the Union S.S. Company, and a charge against Udall of being unlawfully in possession of an automatic pistol — a German "Fuger" — and of ammunition for it. There were also charges against Henry Henniker Boulder and Joseph Marshall of receiving from G. F. Shinner cutlery and plated goods to the value of £12, knowing the same to have been dishonestly obtained.
Chief-Detective Kemp conducted the case for the police. Mr. O. B. O'Donnell appeared for Shinner. Mr. G. G. Watson for Campbell, and Mr. A. B. Sievwright for Smith.
The Chief Detective said the cutlery was in a case consigned to Messrs. Walker and Hall, by a Sheffield firm. The accused Shinner was foreman at the hold where the cases were stored, Campbell was foreman at No. 2 hold, and Smith was a labourer. Udall was watchman.
After evidence had been heard, accused were asked if they had anything to say. Shinner pleaded guilty to taking £25 worth of the stolen property. Udall to £25 worth, and Smith to £14 15s worth.
Campbell pleaded not guilty. Shinner, Smith, and Udall were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, and Campbell for trial.
Bail was allowed in the case of Campbell in the sum of £200 and one surety of £200, or two sureties of £100. Bail was refused in the case of the men committed for sentence, the Magistrate holding that they would not have long to wait.
The charge relating to the African Steam Ship Company, made by error, was withdrawn.
On a summary charge George F. Shinner pleaded guilty to the theft, on 22nd November, of a pair of silk stockings, the property of the Union Steam Ship Company.
His Worship imposed a sentence of one month's imprisonment. -Evening Post, 14/12/1921.
CARGO PILLAGING
FOUR MEN SENT TO GAOL
THREE THIEVES AND A RECEIVER
Four men, George Frederick Shinner, gang foreman; John Udall, hold watchman; Alfred James Smith, watersider; and Henry Henniker Roulden, hawker, were sentenced to terms of imprisonment with hard labour varying from eighteen months to three years by Mr. Justice Hosking at the Supreme Court this morning for their part in the theft of cutlery and silver, valued in all at £250, from a hold of the steamer Dorset.
In making a plea for leniency in Shinner's case, Mr. L. E, Edwards stated that the prisoner had borne a good character up to the present throughout the sixteen years he had been engaged on the waterfront.
"You mean that he has never before been found out," remarked his Honour. "It appears to me that there has been an organised system of thieving, otherwise these thefts could not have been carried out."
"No doubt others were involved," answered counsel.
"Yes, everyone in that hold." The Crown Prosecutor, Mr. P. S; K. Macassey, agreed that that was probably so, but the Crown had not been able to obtain sufficient evidence against certain other workers.
The next point made by Mr. Edwards was that Shinner was not in a position of trust — he was merely a gang foreman.
"Every man who goes down into a hold is in a position of trust," said his Honour.
Mr. A. B. Sievwright then addressed the Bench on Smith's behalf, and commenced a plea that the Court should grant prisoners probation. "You need not waste your time," said his Honour; "I do not consider that this is a case for probation. I can only look at the clear and practised manner in which the thefts were carried out. . . .The evidence seems to reveal practised hands and organisation among the team, whereby the men managed to get rid of a whole case of cutlery and silver."
Mr. Sievwright suggested that Smith had but given way to temptation, and had picked up certain of the articles when he saw them lying about.
Udall had nothing to say. "One knows how rife this class of crime has become," said his Honour, before passing sentence upon the three men, "and it is recognised that when a crime becomes rife it is the duty of the Court to impose, severer sentences." Udall was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with hard labour, Shinner to two years and six months' hard labour, and Smith to two years' hard labour.
The excuse put forward by Boulden through counsel, Mr. Sievwright, was that he had got into debt and had availed himself of the opportunity of taking over certain of the articles from Shinner in order that he might hawk them about the town and so raise a little ready money. "You surely do not put that forward as an excuse," remarked Mr. Justice Hosking. "That is the sort of excuse that every thief would offer. He knew that the articles had come from the hold of the Dorset. The receiver is really worse than the thief. All this new stuff could not be got rid of except through receivers."
Counsel maintained that Boulden had never received stolen goods in big quantities.
A sentence of eighteen months' imprisonment with hard labour was passed. -Evening Post, 17/12/1921.
PASSENGERS ARRESTED.
Drunkenness Charges Heard at Ashburton.
(Special to the "Star.") ASHBURTON, January 19.
Three passengers on ‘the north-bound express were arrested at Ashburton last evening on charges of drunkenness. They appeared before Messrs F. W. Watt, J.P., and W. H. Rundle, J.P., in the Police Court this morning.
Alfred James Smith, of 101, Harper Street, and Adam Whitelaw Campbell, of 76. Edward Avenue, both of Christchurch, were each fined 20s and the cost of taxi hire.
John Phillip Boyd, of no fixed abode, who was also charged with using obscene language, was convicted and fined £3. On a charge of drunkenness Boyd was convicted and discharged. -Star, 19/1/1932.
A remand for a week was granted by Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court today to Alfred James Smith, aged 50, a labourer, who is charged with stealing a pair o£ sandals valued at 2s 3d from J. B, McKenzie Ltd. Bail was allowed in a sum of £50 and one surety; of £50. Detective-Sergeant L. Revell described Smith as a very active shop thief; and said that other charges were pending, -Evening Post, 28/7/1934.
FOR SHOPLIFTING.
POCKETS IN AN OVERCOAT.
NINE CHARGES PROVED.
(By Telegraph. — Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day.
An exhibit in Court to-day was an overcoat with lining and pockets specially cut to facilitate shoplifting. The owner, Alfred James Smith, aged 50, labourer, was convicted on nine charges of stealing from various shops goods valued at over £8.
The magistrate said the difficulty about the case was the number of the offences and the fact that the overcoat showed that they were deliberate. He had good reports about Smith, however, and because a long term of imprisonment would be a hardship on his wife and children the sentence would be one of two weeks' imprisonment. -Auckland Star, 4/8/1934.
DEATHS
SMITH. — On 1st March, 1935, at Christchurch, Alfred James Smith, beloved second son of Calvin Smith and the late Jessie Smith, 49 Opoho road, Dunedin. -Evening Star, 2/3/1935.
FUNERAL.
THE Funeral of the late Alfred James Smith will leave his late residence, 218, Durham Street, Christchurch, on Monday, March 4, at 2 p.m.. for the Bromley Cemetery. JOHN RHIND. -Star, 2/3/1935.
Alfred James Smith's cause of death was "cerebral hemorrhage."
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