A SHAM DOCTOR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1414, 5 November 1885, Page 3

A SHAM DOCTOR.

On Friday, the 24th of October (says the Chrißtchurch Press of Saturday) a person who gave bis name as Kingsford, and described himself as a physician, took up his quarters at the Commercial Hotel, Christchurcb, engaging a handsome suite of rooms. He next paid a round of visits to the labor agencies, the result of which was that several ladies visited him on Saturday at the Commercial Hotel, with the hope of obtaining a situation as housekeeper from him. To them he described his handsome residence, which he located now in Timaru, now iu Temuka, and again somewhere else ; and his large practice, his ample income, and the number of servants he kept—sometimes two, sometimes three. He then inquired what salary they were accustomed to receive. In one case this was stated at £4O per annum,.but he promptly replied that he did not consider £4O per annum sufficient for his housekeeper, and he should pay £65. . The first applicant who came he engaged, and then told her he was obliged to go south by the morning express on the following Monday; and she must be ready to go with him then. Naturally the future housekeeper said she would do nothing of the kind, but "Dr Kingsford" was very persistent, and finally she agreed to go by the afternoon train on Monday. Meanwhile, however, a judicious lady friend was making enquires on her behalf, The "Doctor" had declared himself to be on terms of intimate acquaintance and friendship with Archdeacon Harper, at Timaru, and even described the dinners which he had enjoyed at that gentleman's table. He also claimed to possess the acquaintance of several other prominent members of Timaru society. A rapid interchange of telegrams with Timaru proved that whatever "Dr Kingsford" knew of Timaru, Timaru knew nothing of "Dr Kingsford." • The truth of a remark incidentally let fall about a consultation held on Saturday morning with Dr Deamer was also tested, and it was found that no such consultation had taken place. It is needless to say that the newly-engaged housekeeper did not take the afternoon train for Timaru. Tho engager, however, who had brought no luggage to the hotel with him, and had paid Mr Warner, licensee of the Commercial Hotel, in advance by cheque, disappeared on Monday morning, and far a few days was no more seen. During these days numerous interestißg matterß same to light in connection with the affair. It appears that he was doubtful of his Monday housekeeper turning up, so, to avoid disappointment, he had engaged a second for Tuesday morning, a third for Wednesday morning, and a fourth for Thursday morning. He was always very careful to draw up an agreement—one of the four ran as follows : - «• Miss , I agree to give you £65 per vear as housekeeper at my residence at femuka. A month's notice to be given on each side. (Signed) Fkedk. Kingsford, M.R.C.P." He had not assumed the medical style for nothing, and on Saturday it appears that he actually attended some patients. Hare is a verbatim, or, rather, literatim, copy of one of his prescriptions :- u M r , 3 of T.C. 20 Bal 4 / 0-T.K." He had imitated the usual mystic medical scrawl very well, and until examined the thing really looked like a prescription. Prisoner was.arrested at the Star and Garter Hotel on Friday, and was charged at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday with stealing an overcoat and a hankerchie?, value £5, the property of J. M. Brown, from the Christchurcb Club on October 28th, and another overcoat, value £3los, belonging to Sydney J. Dick, from the Clarendon Hotel, on October 23rd. Hs was also acclised of obtaining board and lodging to the extent of £4 14s from W. F. Warner, licensee of the Commercial Hotel, on October 23rd, by false pretences. Prisoner elected to be dealt with by this Court, and pleaded guilty to all the charges. Mr- Beetham to accused : " What have you got'to'soy, and what is the history of all this 1" Prisoner: " Drink, Your Worship." The police proved several. previouE convictions of forgery and false pretences. He had not long ago done a sentence of four years for forgery. The prisoner was sentenced to six months' hard labor in each charge, eighteen months in all. Accused is said to have the aliases of Fredk, Cooper, Cameron, Fisher, and Thompson, but his real P»rne is Alfred Cooper. He is a man of about thirtyfive or forty, and has a wife and family