BOGUS ACCIDENT CLAIMS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8933, 25 September 1907, Page 4

BOGUS ACCIDENT CLAIMS.

Beuamiu Bitcu, 43, who described himself as a provision dealer, and who gave an address at Teigu View Terraco, Toigimionth, Devon, 1 was charged at West Ham with obtaining £lO by false pretences with intent to defraud Henry Backstall, a confectioner, of Woodgraugo Road, Forest Gate. The case was one of an extraordinary character, the alleged frauds being in connection witli what were called bogus accidents. A. coincidence in the case was that the accused is the brother of a man who absconded while under remand at Stratford a few mouths ago on similar allegations. Mr Leycester, who prosecuted for the Ocean Accident and Guarantee "Corporation, Limited, and for Messrs Watuoy, Combo, Reid, and Co., said the, accused apparently had some time sustained an injury to his right knee. It had been of many years’ standing, and the accused had found it to he a lucrative, albeit a painful, way of getting a living. Ho .seemed to be ever on the lookout for -a defective door-mat, a cellar flap, or a rope across the footpath, or, indeed, anything that would furnish him with the opportunity of falling on bis knees, and then followed a claim for damages, which, however, if resisted, would not be taken into court. In May, 1003, he went to Lari’s Court Exhibition with Ids wife, and bore stepped on what ho said was a gas valve. Ho slipped and hurt his right knee, and then there was a 1 claim for damages against the Exhibition Company, who were assured with the Ocean Accident Corporation. The accused claimed £2OO, but be accepted £35, and £5 5s as costs. In January, 1003, bo was in Greek street, Soho, ami in passing the promises of Messrs Rcddau he tripped over a chain attached to the shutters. He hurt his knee, made a claim, and got £45. In May of the same year he went to St. James’ Theatre, and discovered a carpet with a loose comer. Going out of the house he tripped over the loose corner, and again hurt ins right knee. Ho made a claim on Mr George Alexander, and got £45 from the Ocean Accident Corporation. In this caso ho was visited on behalf of the company by Dr. Beuthall, who had visited him m a previous caso, and recognised him, but the company paid out. Then came the claim upon Mr Backstall, of Forest Gate, the defendant saying that, on November 34th, 1903,‘he fell over a trap-door. He claimed £SO, reduced to £4O, and afterwards settled for £lO cash aud £5 worth of goods. On February 2nd employees of Messrs Watuey, Combe, Reid aud Co. were deliverjug beer at the Swan Hotel, Stratford, when tho defendant tumbled over a rope and hurt his right knee. He muado a claim aud this was settled for £45. The money was paid on the 13th, and it seemed to have produced a quick recovery, for on the 16th defendant was out again aud met with yet another accident. (Laughter.) This was at the Greyhound at Sydenham, where he fell over one of Jllessrs Meux’s ropes. A claim was made aud sent to the Loudon and Lancashire Assurance Co., but the claim was resisted, aud it was dropped. Iu April, 1905, Miss Buddeu, a Forest Gate postmistress, received a claim from the defendant, who said lie bad fallen over her cellar-flap. On* her behalf a friend settled the matter for £6, aud gave him £1 in goods, aud paid_ the dootor’sjfoes. In October, 1905, defendant was iu CoSumercial Road East, aud outside the promises of Messrs Harris, the tobacconists, be put bis foot through a broken pavement light, and claiming for an injury to bis knee was paid £32 compensation. A number of witnesses who wore called corroborated counsel’s statement, aud tho defendant was remanded on substantial bail.