HOODWINKED DOCTORS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 January 1933, Page 8

HOODWINKED DOCTORS

FRAUDS ON FRIENDLY SOCIETIES LONDON, December 2. “The judge says you are a fraudulent old scoundrel,” shouted the dock officer in the ear of a deaf prisoner at Birmingham Assizes yesterday. Prisoner; Thomas Griffiths, 54, carpenter, Pyle, Glam., was then sentenced to three years’ penal servitude for obtaining money from friendly societies by fraud. David Wilmott, 38, confectioner, Pyle, who was charged with him, received a sentence of twelve months. The Hon. Sir Reginald Coventry, prosecuting, said the case disclosed a deliberate fraud to get money from - a large number of friendly societies. For years, Griffiths had been obtaining sick benefit, as had Wilmott, who had never been out of wark.

The investigations only covered the last two years, and only dealt with fifteen friendly societies, but the prosecution had reason to believe that no fewer than eighty friendly societies were defrauded or that efforts were made to defraud them. The system was simple,and was no doubt originated by Griffiths. In applying for membership he had variously described himself as an architect, a piano tuner, and a law student. Sir Reginald added that Griffiths paid contributions for a few months, then fell ill and, on a doctor’s certificate, obtained sick benefit. He belonged to a great number of societies and used the names of people who disappeared. He obtained their birth certificates from Somerset douse. Wilmott visited nine doctors in two years, and had 122 different certificates in the names of Griffiths, Lloyd, Miller, and Taylor. He hoodwinked the doctors on various occasions and simulated diseases which it was difficult to diagonise. One doctor was grossly careless and gave him nine certificates in four months, and did not know he wa’s the same man. When Griffiths was arrested there was found a note-book containing the names of ninety-eight societies. There were also found twenty-four membership cards. It was difficult to say how much money had been obtained. From fifteen societies in the last two years Griffiths had obtained £741, but that was a small fraction of the total amount.