A BOGUS SUBSCRIPTION LIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2362, 1 June 1899, Page 19

A BOGUS SUBSCRIPTION LIST.

VICTIMISING THE PUBLIC.

(From Otjh Own Correspondent.)

AUCKLAND, May 26. At the Police Court this morning, before Mr T. J Hutchison, S.M., a middle-aged man named Patrick Fee was charged, on the information of Detective Herbert, with being an idle and disorderly person. Detective Herbert went into the box and explained that accused had issued subscription lists with a heading as follows :— " By the kind permission of his Worship the Mayor a public subscription is opened in town and country for a family of the highest reputation, formerly ratepayers. The total amount this family earned for the ptist eight years comes to £128 Bs, or £16 Is a year. The name of the family is omitted, which I hope will not offend any subscriber. The mayor can guarantee it a deserving case. Trusting, therefore, you will subscribe generousty to this deserving case of destitution." Detective Herbert said ho sent a post card to the address of acctised, and when he turned- up witness and Detective M'llveney arrested him, and they found certain papers in -his possession and subscription lists with names attached. These 'lists had been circulated round the city. He had come to % the conclusion that accused Was peculiar in his mmd, and he learned he had been in a lunatic asylum. His wife and children were "living in a small two-roomed house in very poor circumstances. Accused had Inserted the following advertisement in the Auckland Star :— " Wanted, lady canvassers. Good commission oft trial. 'Salary, 30s per week if suitable. — Urgent, Star office." In answer to the advertisement accused got several letters from females, applying for the position of canvasser. One lady in her application said : " I am\a young widow of good pppearance and address. I have had some experience at the business." Detective Herbert said he found replies in the possession of accused at the time of his arrest. Se'vexal subscription lists circulated had not come in yet. Accused said he had been 22 years in New Zealand. He wanted to know what constituted a rogue and a vagabond from a legal point of view. There .vas no charge. Accused to Detective Herbert : " Was it legal for you to send a post card to me?" Witness: "I think so." Accused said if his Worship let him off he would get work. He had six children and a wife to keep. Mr D. Goldie (mayor of Auckland) said he did jiot give authority to accused to issue a subscription list. The wife of accused and a girl came to his private house one evening and he gave them ss. He had cautioned, accused in his office not to circulate the list. Chief Detective Grace said the Charitable Aid Board were desirous of sending accused and his wife and family back to Dunedin, where they came from. The magistrate pointed out to accused that Le had been guilty of false pretences. Accused muttered something about "law," when his Worship interjected and said accused knew so much about the law that he should be examined mentally. Accused said there was no sign of insanity about him. Mr Hutchison, addressing accused, said a man who imposed upon persons with a subscription list and got young ladies to go round the city and help him to get money was a rogue and a vagabond under the act, and liable to one year's imprisonment. In answer to a question, accused said he came from Dunedin. ATr Hutchison: "Would you like to go back?" Accused : " I might if my wife was inclined. Well— yes, I will." Mr Hutchison then told accused that the passage of his wife and family would be paid back to Dunedin. He would be convicted and discharged.