A BOGUS DOCTOR

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 194, 12 May 1921, Page 9

A BOGUS DOCTOR

KNOCKS ABOUT* TOWN SWINDLING SHOPKEEPERS Harold Bruce Andersctn was charged in the Magistrate’s Court? yesterday morning, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., with—(l) Having on April 23 cbtainod from E. C. Browne, Ltd., goods to the value of Jl5 16s. 6d., by falsely repix’senting that he was Dr. Anderson, and: that he was a cousif. of Dr. Anderson, of Wanganui. (2) Having on April 26 obtained from the same firm goods to the value of £4 7s. tki. by moans of thio same false pretence. (.3) Having on April 28 attempted to obtain from the sarnie firm .a dinner suit valued at .618 18s. by moans of the same false pretence. (4)i Having on April 27 obtained from G. and, 1 T. Young, jewellers, goods to tho A’55, by means of a. valueless cheque, drawn on the National Bank, with infant to defraud. (5) Having on April 28 obtained from George and George, drapers, Newtown, a fur eoat valued at .£l2, by {means of a valueless cheque. (6) Having on April 29 obtained from. AV. If. City, chemist, the sum of A 5 by means, of a valueless cheque. Chief Detective Ward! appeared for the police, and Mr. J. Scotfl; for the accused. Anderson has stood i|n the dock about three times, and on «ach occasion has had the appearance ■of suffering from some nervous disorder,, but Chief Detective Ward assured the- Magistrate that the man was merely meting.

Raymond Ernest Ben nett, accountant in the Te Aro branch of tthe National Bank, stated that the accu.sied called at the bank on April 28 gtive the name of Hillyer, and stated that he had come from New South AValJas, where he had money in a bank. He 'wished to find out the best way of transflerring his account to New Zealand. Thri accused told witness he was buying in<tb an iron foundry. Anderson had no account at the bank. AViroam M. Nairn, ■ a clerk, also employed bv the National Bank, stated that accused had told him:'that ’he had seen Hie accountant about fretting some money from Australia. Acciß-ed further stated that he had arranged Jo open an account with the "National Baiffc. and asked for a cheque book, which was supplied to him As accused had no sufconnt at the bank cheques issued by hirn. were valueless. . Thomas Gray Young}. of the firm of G. end T Young, jewellers, Lambton Quay, said that he saw the accused in the firm’s shop on April 2? for the first time. He said he was Dr. Anderson, of Wanganui. and desired to purchase an engagement ring, but t[he ring was not to cost more, than .£3O. He also obtained a wedding ring, a bracelet watch, and a brooch. The firm had not been paid tortile goods. ~ . „ Tn reply to Air. Scoftt, witness said ho believed accused’s statement that he was Dr. Anderson, of Wanganui. Rita Crane, employed by G. amt L. Young, stated that Hie handed to accused the articles mentioned by the last witness, with the exception of two brooches which were post’d to byat Bay. Accused paid for the goods by cheque which had niit been honoured. To Air. Scott: Wifaess thought it was strange that the cheque should 'be drawn on a Wellington banfc. Bernard Znck.er, salesman in the employ of E. Cfl Browne and Co.. Ltd., stated that flic accused - visited the shop on the morning of Apiijil 23. introducing himself as Dr. Andeieon. and saying that lie was a cousin of Lfrr. A nderson, of Av awhom he vrtas joining in pni nership. Accused purchased several articles, including a :dinner suit tor .118 18s and stated that he would give n cheque for all the other articles purchased, a sum of .£» 45.. later on. J lie amount had not been! paid. Alfred Edward St-flnc, manager of the Newtown branch of . Messrs George and George’s drapery store, suited that accused came to the djlwp and purchased a fur coat for £l2. He said he was Dr Anderson, and that: Dr. Anderson of Wanganui, was his cousin. Accused tendered a cheque fop the value of the coat, but the cheque had not been hon°UWilliam Henry Coy, chemist, Newtown, stated that «n. two occasions prior to April 28 the accused called at the shop for photographic material for which ha paid cash. Accused said he was a traveller for Sargocd, Son, and Ewen, and was put off tvpo days per week because of the slacldness of trade. On April 29 he called lit the shop and gave an order for photographic material valued at £2 14s. Acchw* a cheque for £7 'l4s., and tendered it to witness, who returned £5 in cash. Accused then used the shop telephone and appeared to be ringing up a Jbank. He asked if a draft had arrived. Accused said to witness after using the- telephone, "I don’t wish to be overdrawn."

Detective Torranc* said he camo .across the accused in Place. The man was smartly dressctl and quite normal. When questioned Ne said his nanie was Anderson, but. that he was not relntoil to Dr Anderson, ofl Wanganui. He said he was called “Doctor” bv wav of a nickname. He further stated that he had recently arrivied from Sydney, and that he had plenty! of money, hav'ng nrranged to transfer Hu's •account. The accused was taken to the Defective Office, where he became .hysterical and would give no informatidn. The witness had recovered some of the articles. Accused pleaded guilty to all the charges and was kannmilted to the Supreme Court for sentence.