ABUSE OF CHARITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21225, 4 July 1932, Page 7

ABUSE OF CHARITY.

FRAUD ON HOSPITAL BOARD* OFFENDER SENT TO PRISON. A plea of guilty was entered by Jofcni Birbeck Gascoigne, aged 44, engineer,' when charged in the Police Court on Saturday ivith being a rogue and a vagabond, in that he imposed on the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Detective-Serjeant Kelly said that in,June, 1931, accused applied to the board, for assistance a:.id made a written declara-, tion to the effect that his wife and five children:, whom he supported, were in Auckland and were destitute. On several occasions he was granted provisions, to a total valuti of £4 16s. It* was subse- , quently ascertained that he" had not been * living with his wife and family, who were" in Samoa. It was stated by accused thab he had given the provisions to his landlady in lieu of rent. In asking for leniency, counsel said ac«" cused Hhought he was entitled to get charitable aid, as he was on relief work* and was sending money to his wife. ?"«

"It is a very serious offence and it mnsfc' be punished accordingly," remarked ths magistrate, Mr. W. li. McKean, in pass-'' ing sentence of ono month's imprisonment, lie added thai: accused had previously; been convicted of dishonesty and only re-, ccntly had been discharged from prison*