PLEADS POVERTY

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1929, Page 6

PLEADS POVERTY

MAN WITH BANK DEPOSIT. By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright. AUCKLAND, August 13. j In the Police Court, William Davis was charged under Section 52 of the Police Offences Act, with making a false declaration, stating that he was destitute, in order to obtain free accommodation at tlie Auckland Infirmary, whereas he had £77 in the Post Office Savings Bank.

Mr. Cocker, for the Auckland Hospital Board, said that Davis; applied to tlie Board on May 31st for admission to the Infirmary, and in reply to the relieving "officer, stated that he was destitute. After medical examination, he was admitted to the institution, where he remained until last Monday. While the accused' was at the Infirmary, a woman with whom he had boarded handed over some of his effects to the Board, and among these was found a hank book, wliich slipwed the accused to have been in possession df £77 the day he made the application far admission. In April, the accused’s credit in the Savings Bank was £173, but the accused had been drawing Sums of £5 and £lO until the day that he applied, when he drew. £5. The woman .with...whom Davis - boarded said, that the. accused told her tp keep . the hook and to 'be careful not to let anyone, know he liad an account! Wheri questioned. about the book, the accused- said that, he- thought- it had been stolen on the night,before he had applied. Counsel added that the Hospital Board had had spme suspicious cases, and this was obviously a premediated attempt. . 1 :

Davis was - sentenced .to 14 dr’, 1 imprisonment with ,hard\ labour, and was ordered to make .a payment .of £lB 18s for accommodation at the Home for qine weeks, and to pay the costs of prosecution, two guineas.