POSED AS DOCTOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22464, 7 July 1936, Page 11

POSED AS DOCTOR

YOUNG MAN'S FEAUDS

TRADESPEOPLE DECEIVED

SALESMAN SENT TO PRISON " MENACE TO THE COMMUNITY " [BY TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT] TE AWAMUTU, Monday Two charges of obtaining credit by fraud were preferred against a young man, Ivanhoo Huia Leslie Bicknell, aged 26, salesman, in the Police Court at Te Awamutu to-day, before Messrs. W. Jeffery, W. Swain and G. T. Crawley, J.P.'s. Accused pleaded guilty.

Constable J. Forsyth, who conducted proceedings for tho police, said that accused arrived in the district on June 18, and represented that lie was Dr. Fortesque, from Sydney, visiting New Zealand on holiday. He called on a local chemist, asked for a piece of paper on which to write a prescription, and feigned it "B. D. Fortesque, M.D." At accused's request the chemist made up the prescription, and also supplied him with other goods, the constable added. Accused stated that his wallet was at the hotel, but ho would pay later. The chemist had supplied the goods and allowed credit in the firm belief that accused was a qualified doctor. "Doctor From Sydney"

Accused had also driven up to a service station in a motor-car and asked for benzine and oil, Constable Forsyth continued. In reply to a question he said that he was a doctor from Sydney, travelling through New Zealand, studying Maori anthropology. Ho claimed that he had money coming from tho Commercial Bank in Sydney, but was having trouble in negotiating tho drafts because there was no branch of tho bank in To Awamutu. When accused undertook to pay his account weekly, the service station manager supplied him with benzine. Many People Convinced Constable Forsyth said that accused had set himself out to let people know that lie was a doctor. When arrested he had cards in his possession printed "Dr. B. D. Fortescue, Darwin, Queensland." He had succeeded in convincing many people that he was a qualified medical practitioner, and had even convinced a real doctor. Accused had a wife and family in Wellington. Ho had left a trail of debt wherever he had been, and was undoubtedly a very plausible impostor. Accused said the two charges covered the only debts owing. He had been arrested before he had an opportunity to pay them, and there had been no intention to defraud. Ho had been a medical student for a number of years, and actually he was a doctor of science. American Degree Claimed

Mr. Jeffery: "How could you write a medical prescription if you were only a doctor of science?"

Accused: "No dangerous drugs were in the prescription Anyone could buy them."

Where did you get your degree as a doctor of science ?—lt is an American degree. Obtained through a correspondence course, I suppose?—No, it was granted on submission of a thesis while I was studying medicine Accused admitted that he was not on the register of medical practitioners He contended that the prescription he had made out was quite accurate. Any medical practitioner could verify it. Questioned by Mr. Jeffery, who is a qualified dispensing chemist, accused became confused about the ingredients and dosage of the prescription. Constable Forsyth said that other charges were pending. Bench Refuses Suppression Accused was convicted and sentenced to two months' imprisonment 011 the first charge, and was convicted and discharged oil the second. An application for the suppression of the evidence was made by accused, on the grounds that publication would probably hurt others. "No chance whatever," said Mr. Jeffery. "You must take the punishment that is coming to you. According to the police there are other charges pending. A man who poses as a doctor of medicine is a menace to the community, and is looking for trouble. Nothing disturbs public confidence more than to find that an unqualified man has been posing as a medical The Court takes a serious view of the offence, and your request for suppression cannot be granted."