"A HOPELESS OPTIMIST."

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 49, 26 February 1916, Page 15

"A HOPELESS OPTIMIST."

• FIVE MILLION SHELI/INGS FOE CHICKENS.. A fine of £25 was imposed by Mr Hopkins, at Bow Street; on 'Ritchie < Gill, a young man, described as a film Tenter, •of Twickenham, charged ■ with attempting to procure charitable contributions by: fraud. CThe prisoner, it was stated, established Mmself in Upper St. Martin's Lane, under the-title of the-'Heroes' Poultry Farms, Xitd. -A. large number of pamphlete ' was sent oat explaining that the objectof the concern was to give employmentto maimed soldiers, and to supply new-laid eggs and poultry free of charge to military hospitals. "Weiive set ourselves .the • tack," : continued tbe pamphlet, "of collecting live million shillings." •'

' According to the prosecution,"the-prisoner represented that when the company's faims were completed they could cover an area of-100 acres of poultry runs, but, on being interviewed by the police, he admitted that there were no tarme In existence.

Mr Huntly Jenkins, who defended, said the -accused came of a highly respectable family. He was the eon of a Weeleyan, minister, and had one brother an officer and another a solicitor. . He himself Sad been a solicitor's clerk, and he afterwards established 4 cinematograph trade paper,, which, into financial difficulties.'

•TVlth.«gard to,the charge, ,the position could .properly tie put es that of a man. counting ■ his • chickens before they were-'hatchea. Having conceived this Idea, he honestly, thought it could toe carried out successfully, tout, unfortunately, the necessary funds we're not forthcoming. Only i£2o -was-received from the-public, end the defendant ftlmself «pent £60 on the concern. If the magistrate thought proper, the £20 would toe. returned to the subecribers. ■' i

■ A number: of "witnessee- testified to the ..good character of the defendant, one ot them describing him as "hopelessly optimistic in everything ihe did." . • . ' The {Magistrate <to the defendant}: Ton, toeing a man who has nothing tout debts, set yourself ont to get a quarter of « million from the (public. There ought to have "been printed across this pamphlet of yours and underlined in every coloured Ink, "I, Ritchie •Gill, don't own a chicken, or even a china neet-egg."

The defendant, as 'Stated, was ordered to j#f • fine at CSSk