CHARITABLE FUNDS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 94, 22 April 1935, Page 7

CHARITABLE FUNDS

DESPICABLE FRAUD

AN ENGLISH CASE

.An appeals director who, in the •words of a Scotland Yard officer, "always sees that a charity with which he is connected is a business proposition" was sentenced at the Old Bailey recently to four years' penal servitude for obtaining charitable contributions by false pretences, says the "Manchester Guardian." He is Walter Tyson (52), and the prosecution alleged that through a bogus organisation—the National Child Welfare Society, of Victoria Street, London, S.W.—he had obtained £3996 from members of the public. During the hearing Lord Meston and Lord Masthead gave evidence, and Detective Inspector Drewe, of Scotland Yard, said that there had been several complaints that Tyson had, at various times, issued circulars bearing the names of peers who had notauthorised him to use them. Tyson intimated that he would appeal. There were six counts on the indictment, all relating to the National Child Welfare Society, and Tyson was found,guilty on every one. i Detective Inspector Drewe said that Tyson had been connected with various societies in London and other parts of the country. In 1914 he was granted a commission in the Royal Army Service Corps, but in 1916 he was asked to -.resign owing to unsatisfactory conduct. After the war he was associated with two or three charity organisations but resigned from one when about to be questioned about the accounts and was dismissed from another when he used the name of Lady Ryall without authorisation. "During the three months in 1929 when he was organising a special appeal on behalf of the National Sailors' Society he collected £4390," said the Inspector. "He paid over £3127 to the society, and this entitled him to £625 commission. As a matter of fact Tyson always sees that a charity with which he is connected is a business proposition," added the officer. ' LORD GAGE'S SIGNATURE. In May, 1930, after Tyson had started the National Child Welfare- Society, Lord Gage received an appeal from the society and, under the impression that it ,was another wellknown organisation for the promotion of child welfare, agreed to become associated with it. A facsimile of Lord Gage's signature was used on appeals, and when : Tyson was interviewed about the matter Lord Gage could obtain no information about the society, so he disclaimed all further connection with it. In 1930 the name of Lord Gage was joined with that of Tyson in an action against the society for £89 for printing. Lord Gage was discharged from the case and judgment was given against Tyson. Difficulty had always been experienced regarding the settlement of debts in connection with the society, and in some cases writs had been issued against people of whose names unauthorised use had been made on documents. The actions were dismissed. ■■'■'■ "In January Tyson ordered stationery value £500," continued the officer. "When he was asked by the printers who would foot the bill he said, Weed I suggest any further?' and produced a document bearing the signatures of five peers which were unauthorised." ' Mr. L. A. Byrne (prosecuting): This was going on, so far as I know, during the proceedings at Bow Street Police Court. I have no doubt, though, that donations did not come in with the same regularity. Inspector Drewe, replying^ to the Common Serjeant, Mr. Cecil Whiteley, . K.C., said that apparently the facsimiles of signatures were obtained from cheques or other documents. TYSON'S DENIAL. Tyson denied that he was dismissed from the Army and said he had to resign owing to ill health. "I am completely innocent of any fraud or false pretence," he added. "I have given four years of my life to the society and have sacrificed my home, my family, and my own interests." Passing sentence of four years' penal servitude, the Common Serjeant said that it was impossible to imagine a clearer case. It had been going on for a long time. "Speaking for myself," continued the Judge, "fraud on charitable funds seems to be more despicable and more mean than any other fraud can be. The public have to be protected from a very clever and able man as you undoubtedly are."