ROGUE ARRESTED IN HOSPITAL WARD

NZ Truth, Issue 1240, 5 September 1929, Page 5

ROGUE ARRESTED IN HOSPITAL WARD

(From ''N.Z. T^uth , s , ' Wanganui R^resentative).V When Frederick Emanuel Simmis, alias Grey, alias Reid, appeared: before Bfav J. H. Salmon, SM at Wanffanui, on charges of obtaining credit by fraud to the tune of £17/5/- from Dr. (J. H. Robertson, and £12/5/- from Dr. K. Christie, Detective Jack Walsh described Simmis as an arrant fraud and confirmed criminal.

HE had 12' previous convictions for offences Including fraud, false pretences, receiving stolen property, theft and 'unlawfully using a motor-car and was discharged from Mt. Eden Gaol on June 3 last. Simmis, aged 40, is a native of Tas- J mania. He arrived m the River City m great style and made himself at home at the Imperial Hotel, where Host Tom Hurley was led to believe that he was a wealthy farmer from; up the Wanganui River who had just disposed of a property, valued at £25,000. He spent money lavishly m the bar and Hurley no doubt thought that he was on a win. ■".-..:■' On the following day, Simmis was introduced to a radio salesman to whom he repeated a simi-

was sent to Braeburn Private Hospital where he was X-rayed./ '"■' Dr. Christie and the staff soon came to the conclusion that there was, nothing the matter with Simmis and the (word was passed on. to the police. I A When the detectives called, Simmis was In bed, comfortably propped up with' pillows and surrounded with hot water bottles. He was immediately transferred to quarters less comfortable. Any. pains iimiiiiiiiiiitiiiiimiiiimiiiiiiiiiiii miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiimiimmiiiiiiiw

that hemay have had were no doubt] due to 'over indulgence In alcohoL While m . Braemar he enjoyed ' several bottles of brandy for his stomach's sake. Incidentally, Simmis'also told Dr. Christie that he. was a nephew of the late Judge ' Sim. ■ - "Simmis 'attempted to impress upon the Magistrate that, he still had the pains which were due ;to war disability.' but; the gabl surgeon who examined him," said , that there was nothing the matter with him. After perusing his lengthy list, Mr. Salmon asked him when he returned from the war, and Simmis replied that he came back m July, 191*6, on the "Willochra." • '"Strange;" . said the S.M., "for you were before the court m March of % that