“LOST LUGGAGE FRAUD”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 811, 4 November 1929, Page 1

“LOST LUGGAGE FRAUD”

YOUNG MEN SENT TO GAOL ATTEMPT ON INSURANCE CO. The brothers in conspiracy in the attempt to defraud an insurance company of £IBO by a “lost luggage” scheme, Cecil ‘William Mitchell, 21, and Arthur Moir Mitchell, 22, w'ere sentenced to two years’ reformative treatment, and six months’ imprisonment respectively, by Mr. Justice Smith in the Supreme Court this morning. Mr. Sellars, representing the elder brother, said that the young men had not had the degree of parental control that was essential. The younger brother had conceived the idea of defrauding the insurance company and had induced his elder brother reluctantly to take a minor part in the offence by collecting the luggage. On behalf of the younger brother, Mr. Leary admitted that his was the greater share of guilt. Counsel remarked that the police had taken a strong view of earlier transactions in insurance, in which the prisoner had figured, and it was no doubt that by these claims he had gained the knowledge to help him commit this crime. Commenting that the crime was very serious, his Honour remarked that it struck at the root of insurance. Insurance companies, he said, were entitled to expect the utmost good faith of people with whom they dealt. One would be almost justified in concluding lhat the prisoners had been engaged in a series of conspiracies, but as it was possible they could establish their innocence if charges were brought, he would disregard these cases. It appeared that the younger brother was the arch-con-spirator, and that the elder had been drawn into i-t. The case was so serious that probtaion obviously could not be given.