BOGUS DOCTOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23037, 14 May 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

BOGUS DOCTOR

SHIPS INSPECTED PILLS GIVEN TO SAILOR CREW'S QUARTERS ROBBED posing as a doctor, a young man, who had formerly been a cook at a boxer's training camp, hoaxed a ship's captain, and conducted a medical examination of a sailor. On other occasions, in order to gain access to ships, he masqueraded as a sanitary inspector or Board of Trade official. Once aboard them, he carried out an inspection of the crews' quarters and carried off whatever he could lay bis hands on.

The exploits of the man, James McGinty, were described in Glasgow Sheriff Court. Mr. J. G. Mac Lean, prosecuting, stated that there were six charges — four of thefts from ships while they were lying in harbour; one of negotiating a seaman's advance note for £3 and failing to join his ship, and one of wilfully and falsely posing as a doctor. Watches Stolen

The offences were carried out on various dates between May 29, 1937, and March 17,- 1938, and the ships which had been visited by McGinty were the Meta, Sunstone, Sagiang, Senta, Kautanger, and Yearly. These ships, explained Mr. Mac Lean, were foreign vessels, and in two cases McGinty actually caused the captain to produce a fumigation certificate to him. As a result of expressing a desire to inspect the crew's quarters, he was allowed to make an examination. The stolen articles consisted mostly of watches.

On one occasion McGinty said he was the port medical officer and examined one of the sailors. He instructed the man to swallow two white pills, which" were later discovered to be aspirins. All the other charges, added Mr. Mac Lean, were of a similarly impudent nature. "Danger to Community" McGinty, he went on, was a man who had been given a considerable number of chances to make good, and had failed to take them. In June, 1934, he was sent to Borstal for three years. In 1936 he was liberated on licence, and a job was obtained for him by the Scottish Central Aftercare Council. Three months later he disappeared in rather discreditable circumstances.

McGinty turned up again later, apd another job was found for him by the Aftercare Council, this time as a cook to Benny Lynch, the boxer, at his training camp at Drymen. Once again he let the Council down, and was dismissed from this employment. Sheriff Donald, in passing sentence of six months' imprisonment, declared that McGinty was a danger to the community.