“A PARASITE.”

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1921, Page 1

“A PARASITE.”

POSING AS A DETECTIVE

A CHARGE OF FRAUD

AUCKLAND, July 12. The unlawful use of the title and authority of the police was the chief reason for two young men coming before Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M. Arthur V. Poison (27) was charged with abetting the offence of impersonating a detective, and James Walter Cowley (21) was charged with the impersonation, while both were charged with being idle and disorderly persons, with no lawful visible means of support. A WIDOW’S STORY.

Martha Larsen, a widow, living in Princes street, stated that Poison lived in the same "flats.” On June 4th witness lent Poison £3O for a month. She was to get £5 for the loan. Poison gave a stamped receipt at witness’s request. On a later date a man called to see her, and said he was a detective. On that night Poison told witness she would not get £3O. A couple of days later the two accused went to witness’ door, and Poison told her Cowley was Detective Martin, and they were inquiring about Poison’s wife. Mrs Poison bad gone away, and they wanted to know if witness had enticed her to go away. Witness told Cowley that Poison had borrowed £3O from her. Cowley told her not to worry about the money, as she would get it in the morning. Cowley (otherwise Detective Martin) told her if she would give him the receipt he would get the money for her. Before that Mrs Poison had told witness that she thought the man who had called at first (not Cowley) was a detective.

To Mr Singer for Cowley) : She did not know what the trouble was between Poison and bis wife. Poison introduced Cowley ns a detective, and witness was to Lull him all she knew about, his wife, but she declined to interfere in other ixjoplo’s buiiinesit. It, was Poison who said Cowley was a detective. To Mr Sullivan (for Poison). The stamped receipt was in the hands of the police. When she lent the money die was satisfied, but later she heard things that worried her. She thought the men camo to discuss Mrs Poison, and witness herself brought tip the ques tion of the money.

To His Worship: She was going on

for 72 years of age

Mabel Larsen, daughter of the previous witness, said Poison wanted to borrow £4O or £SO off her, and asked her not to mention it to her mtoher. Witness became suspicious, and then found that Poison had borrowed £3O from her mother, and had cautioned her not to mention it to witness. Poison later told witness's mother she would he"lucky if slm got thirty pence. UNPOPULAR WITH THE POLICE. Detective Cummings stated that when lie went to the fiats where Poison had told Mrs Larsen that ho was Cowley there. When put under arrest Cowley ran away, but was caught, lie made a staemout admitting that he had posed as a detective, and that Poison ha. dtold Mrs Larsen that ho was a, detective. Poison at first said Cowley said ho was a detective, and inter *;iid he had no recollection of it. There was no "Detective Martin” m the Now Zealand police force, lie had never known Poison to do regular work, and so far as witness knew ho had no visible means of support. Cowley had been at work m Dargaville lor a while l,iit had returned to town, and had been hanging about a good deal.

To Mr ■ Sullivan: Ho was not annoyed at Poison, but Poison was a. pest to society.

To Detective-Sergeant Hammond: There had been complaints of Poison posing as a jockey and taking people down for money.

NEVER KNOWN TO WORK. Detective Sergeant Hammond state, he had never known Poison to work at any trade, hut he had frequently seen him at race meetings in Auckland and in the country districts. \Y itnoss had investigated a complaint of Poison having taken a man down, and Poison had refunded some of the money. Complaints had been received of Poison having posed to office girls as a jockey named Reed, and getting money to put on races, but these people could not come to Court. He pretended to keep books for a married sister who had a bakery business. Mr Sullivan: Do you know Bill Ryan, the bookmaker?—Yes. A friend of yours?— No more than any other bookmaker.

Why don’t you prosecute him?—He has been prosecuted dozens of times. ißy you?—Yes. Why do you persecute and follow Poison?— Because he is a parasite. Francis Cullen, racecourse detective, gave evidence that Poison was an habitual offender at race meetings, although ho was frequently warned off. ACCUSED ORDERED OUT OF BOX.

Evidence was given that accused was employed regularly as bookmaker by his brother-in-law, and was paid between £4 and £5 a week. Ruby Poison, wife of the accused T’olson, said that she and her husband had had a tiff that had passed. She did not tell Mrs Larsen she would not get her £3O, but a bailiff who called at the place did say

The accused Poison denied that he had posed as a detective. He stated that on tho occasion in question Cowley had gone with, him to his flat when under tho influence of drink, and when witness was talking to Mrs Larsen, Cowley, in a drunken fashion, hutted in and made out in a joke that he was a detective. The witness had never said Cowley was a detective. After giving evidence at length the witness said he was convinced tho matter was a frameup by the police against him. Cowley

w«a "paralytic drunk” when he was arrested and gave his statement""-to the police. Detective-Sergeant, Hammond was proceeding with cross-examination when the magistrate remarked that it was unnecessary, as he could give no weight to accused’s evidence and he told accused to get out of the box. His Worship remarked that it was perfectly clear that Poison was the Mephistopheles in the case, and that Cowley was really the lesser offender. On the impersonation charge both accused would be convicted, Cowley would be ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Poison would be remanded for sentence till Monday, and if tlie £3O were paid to the old lady hy that time it would have an effect on the sentence. The vagrancy charge against Cowley was dismissed.