CREDIT BY FRAUD

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 November 1939, Page 10

CREDIT BY FRAUD

“BIRD LOVERS’ CLUB" CASE

[PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.]

AUCKLAND, October 31

Comment on the fact that a man who, his Honor said, had had a record for dishonesty was allowed to appeal to the public from each of three wireless stations in Auckland, was made by Mr. Justice Fair when sentencing a prisoner in the Supreme Court. The case was that of Albert Edward Arthur Hamilton, a motor mechanic, wlio had been found guilty of false pretences and of obtaining credit by fraud.

Accused’s counsel, Mr. Lockhart, said the prisoner had had an indifferent education. There was no doubt that he had done some charitable and benevolent work for orphans and cripples.

His Honor said people had been led to suppose that he was a generous man, giving freely of his time, and taking nothing at all; but he was misappropriating money subscribed by the public. It was impossible to grant probation in a case of this kind where a man had a. bad record of dishonesty extending over the last 14 years.

“In considering that record and prisoner’s history.’’ his Honor continued. “it is surprising to find that, in .spite of it. he has been allowed to appeal to the public from each of the three wireless stations in Auckland in support of an organisation known as the Auckland Bird Lovers’ Club. In consequence of these appeals he obtained large sums from the public, most of which he appears to have misappropriated for his own purposes. “It would .seem desirable that, in future, those who control these stations should satisfy themselves of the character of the speakers who are given the privilege of speaking to a large number of the public before allowing them to make appeals. In this case the facilities afforded have been used to defraud the public, and quite a small proportion of the money subscribed was spent as was supposed, on outings for children.” His Honor said he would take into consideration the jury’s recommendation to mercy, although he doubted whether they would have made it if they had known the prisoner’s record. In view of the fact that these offences followed upon a course of misappropriation of moneys subscribed by the public, the least sentence he could impose would be IS months’ reformative treatment.