CRIMINAL’S LAST FRAUD

Evening Star, Issue 19839, 12 April 1928, Page 9

CRIMINAL’S LAST FRAUD

PDBEO AS A DOCTOR OBTAINING POISON FOR SUICIDE “ A story without any redeeming feature ” was the comment of the Act-ing-Coroner for Birmingham after hearing the evidence regarding the death of an ex-convict who at the time of his suicide was wanted by the police in connection with sundry offences* The man. Harold Mifflin, otherwise Harold Malcolm Graham, otherwise John Cameron, of no fixed abode, described as a draughtsman, was found unconscious in his bedroom at thjs Grand Hotel. Birmingham. He died later in hospital from barbitone poison* ing. Eleanor Mifflin identified the body as that of her husband, who was married to her in 1912. He told her he had. been in the army, also that he had been adopted by wealthy people and had a fixed income. After the marriage j he worked as a draughtsman for a time, hue within six months left her. She J heard that he went to Glasgow, andj than subsequently he was convicted for, | some crime. She never saw him alivai again. She had made inquiries from time to time, and beard he was in] different prisons, and about seven years] ago he wrote to her from Park-l hurst Prison. |

A detective-sergeant who took tbo-i man’s finger-prints produced a report! from Scotland Yard stating that they, were identical with those of a man convicted in March, 1924, under the name of Harold Malcolm Graham. _ He had been convicted a number if times since 1913 in different parte of England and Scotland under various names. Witness related how Mifflin took A room at the Grand Hotel in the name of “John Cameron, Park street, Preston,’’ and sent a page to various chemists with a prescription. This was signed “ J. Cameron, M.D.,” and asked for fifty veronal tablets of five grains stiength. One chemist supplied two tablets. Another, who at first demurred, received a note from “ Cameron ” saying he practised at Derby and Sheffield, and that it was very unusual for a doctor’s prescriptions to bo ignored. “ Please comply ”■ the note ended. Coming to the conclusion that it was a genuine doctor’s proscription, the chemist supplied a bottle containing twenty-five tablets of barbitone, which was the equivalent’ of veronal. The bottle was labelled “ poison.’’ Ten grains or two tablets was the maximum dose. At the request of “Cameron,” who said ho thought ho had pneumonia, one powdered tablet in milk was given to liini Later the bottle was found under his bed empty. The Acting-Coroner (Mr D. Cuthbortson) said the story revealed was not relieved by any redeeming feature. The man deserted his wife some six months or less after marriage, and at a time when she was expecting a child. The records showed that from 1913 to 1924, at all events, he was convicted tor various forms of fraud, including forgery He was only released cm license in September, after serving four years’ penal servitude. At the time of his death he was wanted by the police for failing to report, and for sundry other offences which he was supposed to have committed. He also appeared to he in great straits for want money. “So I suppose he thought might be better off in the next world than in this,” added the coroner, “and ho took his life in this way.” A verdict of suicide was recorded, tbd coroner being of opinion that there wsb not sufficient evidence to show tf» state of the man’s mind.