SIX MONTHS’ GAOL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1943, Page 2

SIX MONTHS’ GAOL

UNAUTHORISED COLLECTION FOR RED CROSS SOCIETY. OFFENDER BEFORE MASTERTON COURT. Arrested by Constable A. N. Clark, in High Street, Masterton, yesterday morning, Douglas Alexander Kerr, alias Ross, who appeared in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon, was charged with being a rogue and vagabond in that he collected subscriptions under a false pretence by representing that he was authorised to collect subscriptions on behalf of the Red Cross Society, Messrs L. J. Taylor and A. D. Low, J’s.P., were on the Bench. The accused pleaded guilty and elected to be dealt with summarily. Senior Sergeant C. Murphy said that at 10 o’clock yesterday morning a lady resident of Kuripuni Street telephoned to the police and stated that a man had called at her house collecting on behalf of the Red Cross Society for sick returned men. Constable Clark was despatched to the scene and found accused in High Street, in possession of a collecting box, on top of which was pasted a first aid certificate. Accused was questioned by the constable and admitted that he had no authority to collect for the Red Cross Society or for anyone else. He stated it was his intention to hand over the money to the Red Cross Society. He had collected about 10s 6d. Accused was 26 years old and had a very bad record. In Palyierston North in 1934, on a similar charge, he was sentenced to three years’ detention in a Borstal Institute and had been discharged from gaol last April on probation. Accused, asked if he had anything to say, stated that he fully intended giving the money to the Red Cross Society. Mr Low: “There is no use of you telling us that.” Accused was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and the money collected was ordered to be given to the Red Cross Society.