Why Did He Always Remember When He Tried Hard to Forget?

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5581, 20 February 1931, Page 8

Why Did He Always Remember When He Tried Hard to Forget?

POSED AS NAPIER REFUGEE. A LOST-MEMORY PLEA WHICH WAS ONLY PRETENCE. "Hmv do you plead?” continually repeated tlio clerk of the Palmerston North. Magistrate’s Court yesterday when addressing Ralph Raymond Roberts, a labourer, of England, aged 22 years, who was charged with being a rogue and a vagabond in that ho imposed upon the relief committee a't tlio refugees’ camp at the Showgrounds by falsely representing that he was a refugee from Napier. There was no response to the question, the accused mawkishly eyeing the police and Bench with a peculiar vacant expression. He subsequently intimated that he had lost his memory and that ho suffered from nerves, but during the cross-examination which followed, his interludes of intelligence on matters irrelevant to the case and his failure to recollect incidents bearing on the charge, led the Bench to tho conclusion that the accused was assuming a pose. Messrs J. H. Stevens and W. G. Ashworth, J’sP., then had no hesitation in imposing a sentence of three months’ imprisonment.

The Case For the Police. "Can you read?” said tho clerk of the Court and, receiving an affirmative nod, handed tho accused the charge sheet for his inspection. Clerk of tho Court: How do you plead? Guilty or not guilty? Accused (after lengthy silence): I was in Napier during the ’quake Senior-Sergeant Whitchousc: I suppose we can take that as meaning he is pleading "not guilty.” Five days after the disastrous earthquake in tho Hawke’s Buy tho accused had entered the refugees’ camp at the Showgrounds by means of an official pass, explained the Senior-Sergeant. Roberts bad subsequently offered his services to the authorities as a relief driver, stating that he had been a service-car driver at Rotorua. He had been accepted for duty and given a car but instead of carrying out two hour’s work ho had used the vehicle for several days. Accused had "told a friend at that time that he had been ill Auckland during tho shake. Found to be an imposter accused had been forced out of the Palmerston North camp but went to Wellington and there told officials that he had lost relatives in the Napier disaster. Was Quite Normal.

In evidence, R. 0. Reeves, said that he had "chummed-up” with tho accused when ho was driving a relief car. Roberts had then acted in a perfectly normal way and was apparently in full possession of all his faculties. Accused had said during a conversation with witness that ho had come from Auckland and had not been in Napier during tlio shake.

A Lapse of Memory. Lyall Thomas Henry, of relief headquarters, Napier, told the Court that lie had .come in contact with the accused when on leave in Wellington. "I was told that they had a man there suffering from loss of memory and accordingly I went to sec him,” declared witness. "I was unable to make senso of Roberts, however, but consented to take him back to Napier with me as he claimed to have lost relatives there.” The accused had been taken to tho Grcenmoadows’ hospital on arrival and, after spending the night there, had pointed out a house on the Marine Parade which he said his relatives had lived in. "The police investigated the ruins but found nothing,” added witness, "and while they were working there I discovered that a lady and her daughter had lived in the house which was only a two-roomed cottage. Accused had told me previously that six of his relatives had lived iu the house. ’ ’

Feared to foe Seen. In reply to a question from the Bench witness said that the accused had first aroused his suspicions on the way tc Napier. Ho had revealed an “unholy fear” of the polico at Palmerston North and would not go near the lighted places. The Bench: Do you consider he is still posing? Witness: I do not think he ever lost his memory. He never appeared before like he is now. Accused: About why I did not want to go into the Showgrounds—the reason was because I did not want to go near the camp as I had seen people cut about the head after the 'quake. They had bandages on. I saw some with cuts. I did not want to sec that again. Tho Bench: You aro trying to use subterfuge now. Why don't you tell us the truth—aro you posing? You aro trying to appear as a half-witted man, which you are obviously not. Constable Wills, stationed at the Showgrounds, was the next to tell how the accused had changed his story. He also recalled how Roberts had kept clear of lighted places and, upon one occasion had hidden his face with his arms when in the registration office at the Showgrounds. Tho Bench: Have you anything to say as to why you should not be sentenced? Accused: I was on the Marine Parade a.t Napier when the earthquake occurred. I swear I was in Napier. The Bench: Where arc your parents, your brothers or sisters? The accused once again relapsed into a moody silence. The Bench: Would you care to go

in the box and, on oath, give evidence about your relatives and yourself? Accused (after a slight hesitation): Yc.s. Questioned at length by the Bench accused said he came from Wales, England, but did not know how long ago. He had only been in Napier six months before the earthquake. Senior-Sergeant Whitehousc: Were you not working for Dr. Fitzgerald in Napier some eight years ago? Accused (vacantly staring at his questioner): No.—l don’t remember. Senior-Sergeant Whitehousc: Why do you pose as an abject fool —do you think it will help you? Accused: No. Senior-Sergeant Whitehousc: Then why do you do it? The Bench: Accused will be sentened to threo months’ imprisonment and if the authorities consider a medical examination will be of service they will be able to carry it out. Accused: If I remember the specialist’s name, will I be able to tell them? I suffer from my head and my father took me to a doctor in Napier. The Bench stated, in reply, that accused would have every chance to recall the doctor's name. - Scnior-Scrcgant Whitehousc: It is strange that the good people you were billeted with at Wellington took a fancy to you and saw nothing wrong with you. Apparent}' you have got “shell-shocked” from hearing about the earthquake.