OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 162, 11 July 1899, Page 5

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

MISLEADING EVIDENCE AT THE . • ! COURT.

A CERTIFICATE CANCELLED,

At the Police Court this morning before Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., an elderly man, 71 years of age, who said his proper name was Frank Dillon, was charged that on 27th February last by means of a wilfully false reprtv sentation he did obtain from Mr H. W. Brabant, S.M., a pension certificate under the Old Age Pension Act, 189S, lie not being entitled thereto.

Accused was further charged that at Auckland by means of fraudulent devices he obtained payments of three instalments of the pension to the amount of £4 10/.

Sub-Inspector Wilson conducted the case for the police. It appears that after six o'clock last evening Constable Hollis, assistant to the Registrar of Pensions noticed a man in the office whom he knew as Dillon, but whose old age pension certificate was made out in the name of Frank Smith. Constable Hollis took possession of the certificate . and had tha pension stopped. Hollis also arrested Dillon.

John King, Deputy Registrar of Old Age Pensions, deposed to .a certificate being issued to accused on 27th February last in the name of Frank Dillon. Accused had received -three payments of 30/ each. Witness produced the claim which accused tendered in Court and on which he gave evidence. Witness said he was present in' Court when Mr Brabant investigated the claim. Accused said in Court he had not been convicted of any offence for close on "thirty years. John Strafhearn, Relieving Officer of the Charitable Aid Bpard, said he had known accused for over 20 years by the name of Frank' Smith. He had been convicted repeatedly in the Police Court of drunkenness, vagrancy and malicious injury to property. Accused Was admitted to the Costley Home by -petition in August, 1897, as Frank Smith, and he left in October, 1897.' ' ''■"'.- '".' . "-:- '." ' :'■'■•;.''

Constable Hollis produced aprevioiis police record of. Frank Smith, which showed a number of convictions. Witness also deposed as to accused being convicted under the name of Frank Smith. Witness took the certificate from accused and handed it to Mr Brabant. . *.

Mr Hutchison, addressing' accused, said,' "Well, Smith-Dillon, do ybu want to ask any. questions? -'• , Accused, said he had never : sailed under the name of Smith in Auckland, but he travelled in other parts of the world as Smith.

Accused then elected to give evidence on his own behalf. .He said that he told the Magistrate that he was convicted often, but not tinder his right name. He was not convicted for any criminal offence, but for drunkenness. ' , .

The accused further said, he came out from London to Sydney as a German; He had sailed with no man for 35 years as Smith.' Two or three of them gave in their wrong name to. the constable at the cells. Be was convicted of drunkenness, and also of maliciously injuring property. This was due to cabmen teasing and pelting him with stones. The,captains subscribed the fine or he would have got a irionth in gaol. In Auckland in the old times if a person was charged with drunkenness three times they could be charged as a vagrant.

In! answer to Mr Hutchison, accused said he .was not asked a qtiestion in the Old Age Pension Court if he had led a sober life for five years. .

Accused admitted to. Sub-Inspector Wilson he was convicted four times in. 1-98; . *• ■ . * Mr Hutchison said he would convict and . discharge accused. His old. age pension must certainly be cancelled.

An error occurred in our. report of the opening of the Waitekauri and •""olden Cross Lodge of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. Eighty-five members (not 5) were Initiated.