Attempt to Defraud the National Insurance Company.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 201, 27 August 1886, Page 4

Attempt to Defraud the National Insurance Company.

At tho Sydney Supremo Court Francis Charles t'aj 1 r was arraigned on a charge of causing tho payment of the sum sf £71 7s 7d to bo mado to him by tho National Fire and Marino Insuranco Company of New Zealand, by falsely representing that tho foremast and lower rigging of the ketch Champion, which was insured for £200, had beon carried away during stormy woathor, and that, the vessel had sustained other injuries. It appeared from the evidence that tho accused, who was master of tho vessel, sailed on March 13th from Port Jackson to Port Stephens. Soon after passing the Heads the wind became strong, and somo slight injury was dono to the mainmast. An effort was made to got tho kotch into Broken Bay, but the craft had finally to be taken to Nowcnstle. When thocaptiin went ashore ho remarked, "If I cannot make the damage up to £200,1 shall get nothing from the insurance company," and 1 c then threw away some of tho sads. On reaching tho open sea he smashed ono of the boats with an axe, to make it appear as though it had been damoged by the boom ; and by making these falso representations to tho surveyors for the insuranco company he obtained the sum of £71 7s 7d, tho amount at which tho damage was estimated. The prisoner during the opening of the case frequently interrupted tho Crown Prosecutor, and was at length cautioned by his Honour that whilst he should receive every fairue-s ho could not bo allowed to interfere with the procedure of the Court. The charge was amply borne out by tho evideuco of the vaiious witnesses and the jury returned a vordict of guilty, with tho recommendation to mercy. His Honor, in addrofsing the prisanor, eaid that but for the recommendation of the jury he would have boen sentenced lo two years' imprisonment. The sentenco of tho Court, was that he should be imprisoned for twelve months and kept to hard labour.