AN IMPOSTOR'S CONFESSION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5474, 31 December 1904, Page 13

AN IMPOSTOR'S CONFESSION.

• HOW THE PUBLIC IS FLEECED. A somewhat unusual case was heard in a London Police Court a few weeks ago, when Cecil Brown Smith, described as an electrical engineer, confessed to imposing on the public by bogging. For many months the prisoner has been a familiar figure in the neighbourhood of Bishopgate. With head hanging on one side, his foot dragging behind him, and his limbs shaking, he presented a pitiable spectacle. Very few people bought the matches ho carried, but coins wore dropped into his box by City merchants, clerks, and oven poverty-stricken charwomen, and the polio© calculated that he collected J3G a week on the average. The paralysis, it was alleged, was assumed, and ots his way home to Norwood the accused became “much better,” running up the station steps two at a time. He lived in comparative comfort, and his wife had no idea as to his doings in the City. Dr William Gandy, of Norwood, stated in evidence that he had attended the prisoner since last spring. In June last witness’s assistant was called up in the middle of the night to attend him in a fit. His own impression was that he was suffering from a peculiar form of paralysis, rendering the muscles useless. As he was not able to pay for treatment, he advised him to go into a hospital. He considered it a genuine case, and out of kindness to him signed a certificate for his presentation to the Hearts of Oak Society, of wh'ch he was a member. The Alderman: Would it have been possible for him to have appeared worse than ho really was?—Oh, quite possible, ft is a very difficult thing when a man eavs he cannot move his arm for you to tell him he can. Mr Frederick Gordon Brown, surgeon to the City police, stated that Smith told him that a few weeks before Christmas, 1901, he was thrown from a trap and injured at the back of the neck. As a consequence in the following May he was taken suddenly ill, and was removed to St Thomas’s Hospital. After that he went from one place to another, being treated for paralysis. Witness found that the accused could grip fairly well with either hand, the pupils of his eyes were quite normal, and, taking Hie case all round, witness knew of no instance of paralysis ou record consistent with his symptoms. Some of the tests, such as touching the tip of his nose with his forefinger with his eyes closed, he could not perform. He might have seen these, which were the ordinary tests for paralysis, applied to other people. Had he been injured in the way he described his symptoms would have been totally different. The Alderman: You have heard the evidence of the police—how he hung his head on one side and dragged his foot. Was there any occasion for that ?—No. | The prisoner, whose demeanour had quite changed since his last appearance, said ho wished to withdraw his plea of not guilty, and “by God’s help" to tell the whole truth. He then proceeded to read a lengthy statement. He had a remarkably good delivery, and at times he displayed great emotion. In his left hand lie held a spotlessly clean handkerchief, and in the right—the "paralysed" member—his nailers. He had not Bought legal aid-, ho said, because he wished to place the whole truth before the Court even at the risk of getting a heavier sentence. In his cell at Bishopgate Police-station an inspector gave him some kind words of advice, which had moved him to make a clean breast of the matter. Prisoner then detailed incidents of his life in London, declaring that he had been a respected member of society. He had served in .the Royal Artillery until returned medically unfit. He then spoke of his accident and sufferings, and related how he fell into bad company, and was

* obliged to put money on horses. He von. tured small sums at first, and became elated with success till ho put on largei sums and lost. His “friends" threatened him with exposure. “X daresay Bonn . of them are in court now,” ho said bitten ]y, “laughing at my downfall. I began to . think of my wife and little girl, and whal 1 this exposure would - mean to them, and ■ the thought crushed me, and.l decided to - do the things for which I am now brought ■ here." . The prisoner begged the Court bo rememi ! her the time when he was a better man, "When I have served my sentence,’ h« ’ said, "whether long or short, every friend 1 will have turned his back upon me. and 1 every door will bo closed—probably that * also of tnv own home. AVith the help ot ' a higher Power I intend to start again ■, with a clean sheet, and twelve months • i from the time I am a free man I will oom« ! bock and prove to you that at any rate J ! have tried to do better. I ask yen to • I temper justice with mercy.” The Alderman, in passing sentence, said '' he had been watching the prisoner wliil« ! he was reading his statement, and noticed 1 how, perhaps unconsciously, he had been 1 using his right hand meanwhile. Hfl could not conceive a worse case of ita 1 kind. The City of London was noted foi . its generosity in cases of genuine dis. ■ tress, but charitable people, having been misled by such as the prisoner, mighl [ well refrain from giving help in the fnb i ure to the deserving. It was impossible . to tell what injury such a man did t* i others. He would go to prison for thre< , months with hard labour as a rogue and \ vagabond. The prison doctor would saj ■ i how much hard labour be could do. Tin ■ money found on aim would go toward: bis wife’s maintenance.