BANK BOOK REVEALS FRAUD

Evening Star, Issue 20253, 14 August 1929, Page 12

BANK BOOK REVEALS FRAUD

CLAIMED TO BE DESTITUTE [Pek United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 13. In the Police Court William Davis was charged under section 52 of the Police Offences Act with making a false declaration, stating that he was destitute in order to obtain free accommodation at the Auckland Infirmary, whereas ho had £77 in the Post Office Savings Bank. Air Cocker, for the Auckland Hospital Board, said Davis applied to the_ board on May 31 for admission to the infirmary, and in reply to the relieving officer stated that he was destitute. After medical examination he was admitted to the institution, where he remained until last Monday. While accused was at the. infirmary a woman with whom he had boarded handed over some ol his effects to the board, and among these was found a bank book, which showed accused to have been in possession. of £77 the day he made the application for admission. In April accused’s credit in the Savings Bank was £l/3, but accused had been drawing sums of £5 and £lO until the day he applied, when ho drew £o. The woman with whom Davis boarded said that accused had told her to keep the book, and to lie careful not to let anyone know he had an account.- When questioned about the book accused said be thought it bad been stolen the night before he had applied Counsel added that the Hospital Board had had some suspicious cases lately, and this was obviously a premeditated attempt. . ■ Davis was sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment with hard labour, and was ordered to make yaymeht of £lB 18s for accommodation at the home for nine weeks, and the costs of the prosecution (£2 25).,