IMPOSED ON CHARITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20363, 18 September 1929, Page 17

IMPOSED ON CHARITY.

hospital board relief.

false representations made,

MAN REMANDED FOR SENTENCE.

That he was deemed to be a rogue and a vagabond by imposing on tho Auckland Hospital Board, obtaining stores and bread bv falsely representing that he was living with his wife and two children, whereas ho was not living with them, and was not even contributing to their support, was tho charge against John James William Brooks, who appeared before Mr. F. I\. Hunt, S.M., in tho Police Court yesterday. Mr. Cocker appeared for the Hospital Board, and Mr. Clarke, for accused, entered a plea of not. guilty. Mr. Cocker said that Brooks had called at the office of the board in December, 1928, and had represented that ho was living at 55, Vermont Street, Ponsonby, ■with his wife and children, that they were in indigent circumstances, and wero in need of assistance. He had been given stores and bread, of a total valuo of 18s a week, for a period of 25 weeks. Sus picions had been aroused and Brooks was lefused more assistance until ho produced his wife, which he had not done. There was evidence that accused's wife had not lived with him for some years, and had not received assistance from him during that period. Clarence B. Newman, assistant-relieving officer to tho Hospital Board, said Brooks had stated he had been farming but was now out of . work. The amount of stores and bread he had been given was based on tho needs of four persons. Witness had been led to believe that Brook?' wife was still living with liini. "Iu 1921, when living with his wifo end children Brooks lost a leg," said Mr. Clarke. "Assistance was then given by the board. Since September, 1923, they have been living apart. When Brooks asked for assistance in December last no mention was made to him of his wifo and children.' It was not until June that ho was asked specifically whether his wife was still with him." "Well, ho is convicted, but I do not know what to do with him," said the magistrate. "Ho clearly took tho stores, leading tho board to believe that Ins wife nnd children were living with him." Brooks was remanded for sentence until to-day for the probation officer to report, tho magistrate saying he did not like to send a crippled man to prison.