SWINDLING A FATHER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21640, 4 November 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

SWINDLING A FATHER

TELEGRAM IN SON'S NAME

ONE ATTEMPT FAILS

WIFE'S DRAMATIC STORY

Ingenious attempts to secure money from two men by sending them urgent telegrams in tho names of their respective sons were described at the Old Bailey, London recently, when Sydney Gurr, aged 25, clerk, was charged with stealing £l7 10s and attempting to steal £27 10s.

The case brought to light the romance of a young woman who befriended Gurr, arid ultimately married him, although, she knew he had previously been convicted. She made an eloquerft appeal on his behalf for leniency.

Mr. E. X P. Cussen, prosecuting counsel, stated that on July 17, Mr. Hugh Ernest Ffoulkes, of Haglay Grange, near Stourbridge, received the following telegram" Urgently need loan of £l7 10s until Monday. Please wire Fleet Street Post Office. Don't fail me. Vital. Am writing.-—David." Mr. Ffoulkes had a son named David in London, and' thought the telegram came from him, explained Mr. Cusscn. ■He telegraphed back " Unable to send money without further particulars." ■

He then received this further telegrain: —"Drove friend's car without permission. Slight accident. Fined. Able to repay Monday. Home as arranged. Sorry, dad. —David. Believing that the message was from his son, Mr. Ffoulkes telegraphed a money order for £l7 10s to Fleet Street, where Guir was alleged to have called for it and cashed, saying the sendor was his father. The real

David lived in May fair, and had a studio in Piccadilly. His card was on the door, with his father's address on it. He had never sent any telegram. On July 29, proceeded Mr. Gussen, a telegram was sent to Mr. Frank Shippam, living nejir Arundel, Sussex. This read: —" Am in awful #crape. Need £27 10s\to get me out. Am relying on you. Wire immediately, G.P.0., London. Homo to-morrow. Will explain. Don't fail me.—Charlie." Mr. Shippain also had a son in London. He was not satisfied with the wording of the telegram, and he sent tho following reply, which the jury might think was ingenious: " Want proof identity. Wire names and addresses two uncles and two aunts." The names and addresses of the relations were not forthcoming, and the police were informed. When Gurr called at tho G.P.O. ho was arrested. Mr. Cussen added that Gurr had met Mr. Shippam's son Charles at a holiday camp near Eastbourne two year* ago. When Gurr was charged ho replied, " Ridiculous." Gurr, in tho witness-box, denied that he was the man who sent tho telegrams, and declared that he knew nothing about tho frauds. He went to the G.P.0., ho said, to send a telegram to his foster-mother. Fluent Speech to the Jury Gurr railed as a witness a girl friend of his wife's named Daisy Bobbins, who stated that sho wont with him to 4 the pictures on tho afternoon of July 27, when ho was alleged to have been at the Fleet Street office. Asked by the Common Sergeant, Mr. Holnian Gregory, K. 0.. what were the pictures they saw, witness replied that ono was called " The Death Kiss," and tho other, sho thought, was called " Fooling the Public." Gurr made a fluent speech to tho jury, who however, found him guilty without leaving tho box. Detective-Sergeant Voss, of tho City Police, told the court that Ghit's correct name was Sidney Shrimpton. He was born in Australia. Ho had been fined for importing arms and smuggling in 11)27, and sentenced to six mouths' imprisonment in 1932 for obtaining 10s and food by false pretences. Gurr's young wife then went into the witness-box and told a dramatic story. She stated that sho had been bail for him, and that they were married about a fortnight previously. Sho interviewed him about 10 months ago, she continued, when lie went to tho offieo where she was employed about a situation. She realised that, as ho had no references, lie had little chance of obtaining employment, but sho became interested in him and an attachment sprang up between them. Decision to get Married After a time, said witness, she. and Gurr decided to get married. When his friends were no longer able to support him "she arranged for his support. Both of them tried hard to find him a situation, but without success. ( " My husband has intelligence," Mrs. Gurr wont on " but no training, and he is fitted for only a few jobs. He had a little temporary work. He did not like living on my money and he became desperate when 1 had to give up my work. Ho tried in every wav to earn money. 1 know about his*previous convictions and the effect prison has on a man."

I lie judge said ha deeply sympathised with Mrs. G hit, juhl thanked her for her plea for her husband. Addressing Gurr, the judge remarked. " I should have thought more of you had you played the part of a mail. Had you pleaded guilty and put*-forward your difficulty in obtaining work, you might have had a much lighter sentence. But it is idle for a man to plead that after he has gone into the witness-box and committed wilful and corrupt perjury, and induced an innocent woman to do the same thing. In the circumstances you can expect 110 leniency from any judge." Gurr was sentenced to 12 months' impristtiunent with hard labour.