BOGUS VET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 5, 7 January 1938, Page 8

BOGUS VET.

COW COCKTAIL.

FARMER VICTIMISED.

POLICE ALLEGATIONS.

" FRAUD AND TAKE-DOWN."

Although lie used the letterr- ' M.1!.( .S ' and "D.0.H." after Lip name.

Andrew Smith, ajjed 2!>, was not a real Neterinary surgeon. When he appeared in the Police Court on summons to-day the police labelled him "a fraud and a real take-down." Smith pleaded guilty to a charge that on November 1. not being a registered veterinary sursreon, he used in connection with his calling the initials 'M.lv. C.Y.5.," which miirht reasonably cause any person to believe that he wail veterinary surgeon. Known as "Dr. Smith." Detective-Sergeant McHugh told Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., that Smith was a married man living apart from hii= wife. A native of England, he came here about 12 years ago. during which time he followed various occupations. During the past few months he represented himself to be a fully qualified veterinary surgeon. He was known as '"Dr. Smith." "A struggling farmer, Mrs. Edwards, of Henderson, heard of this 'Dr. Smith,' added Mr. McHugh, "and got him to examine her stock, ae several of her cows were sick and dying. Smith took out eight bottles of medicine and gave it to the sick cows. Altogether, he made three visits to Mrs. Edwards' farm, and on the second vif»it he decided to vaccinate the cows. He also made up some more medicine—cocktail, which he said would build up the cows. On the third visit Smith decided to kill the first cow that he attended in order to put it out of it 3 misery. Another cow died, so he took specimens of blood, flesh and stomach, stating that he would have an analysis made." "Don't Often HeaL" The detective-sergeant pointed out that Smith told Mrs. Edwards he was a fully qualified veterinary surgeon, and also that he attended the same university as the Duke of Windsor, and carried out post-mortem examinations at the Auckland Public Hospital. Mrs. Edwards paid Smith sums of £5 and £S, but did not obtain receipts from him. "It will be noticed on the report of the alleged analysis that accused calls himself 'A. Smith, M.R.C.V.S. and D.O.H.' I don't know what the letters D.O.H. stand for— *

Mr. Hunt: Don't Often Heal, perhaps (Laughter.)

Detective-Sergeant McHugh: He admits that he is a fraud and that he never studied veterinary surgery. He has had a secondary education. He also admits having attended to sick dogs, and received £5 for his work. He also admits that he had no means of making an analysis of the specimens he took, and that his report in which he certified that death was due to "Abdominal viscera and congested lungs" was made up by him. Smith once worked at the Auckland Hospital as an orderly or porter, but in August last was dismissed because he was unsatisfactory. He is an absolute fraud, who imposed 011 ihis unfortunate woman—a real take-down. He took £13 from her, and later billed her for another £6 6/. And he killed her cow!"

Mr. Hunt (to Smith): Yes, you are a fraud, and 110 one knojvs that better than yourself. You are fined £20, or three months' imprisonment.

Smith, who did not utter a word except to say "guilty," was allowed a week in which to pay the money.

"A very cruel kind of fraud it was, as it prevented the unfortunate woman from obtaining expert attention," said the magistrate.