WAS IT IMPOSITION?

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8654, 12 February 1914, Page 9

WAS IT IMPOSITION?

PECULIAR COURT CASE FRAUDULENT COLLECTION FOR OLD LADY. A case of all unusual nature occupied the attention ot Mr W. G. Riddell. S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. A respectable-looking old man named John Reuben Ingram was placed in the dock to answer a chaf£® of being a rogue and a vagabond, iu that on or about January 10th la-si, at ‘Wellington, lie did endeavour to impose upon a certain charitable private individual to wit, the Hon. Henry Dillon Bell, by a false and fraudulent representation with a view to obtaining money. Accused entered a idea of not guilty. In the witness-box Mr Bell said that Ingrain came into his secretary’s room and inquired for him. His _ secretary called him and accused claimed acquaintanceship. Ho showed a subscription list, and asked for a donation. The list bore an entry of £1 from Mr G. Hunter, ALP. It’was explained to witness that the list was for an old settler who waa in indigVnt circumstances, and who could not obtain a pension because she owned the house she was living in. He then asked Ingram whether the bid lady would take the money, and the accused replied that he had already handed over a sum. Witness would not contribute, but he promised to have further inquiries made. Adelaide Robinson, formerly Mrs Anderson, a frail-loking old lady, for whom the money was collected, was placed in the witness-box, where a chair was provided for her to rest upon. Witness said that she arrived .in New Zealand by the ship Bolton seventy-three years ago. She knew the defendant, who had lodged with her for five or six years. When he left he owed her £6O or £7O for board. She partly owned the_ house whore she lived, and she received an old ago pension of 18s 4d per month. Ingrain was aware that she was getting an old agepension. He did not at any time mention that ho was getting up a subscription for her. If iic did, she would have Been too -proud to take the money. Detective-Sergeant Kawle, who arrested the accused, said that when charged with the offence Ingram replied ; “It’vs all a mistake. Airs Robinson was in want,' so I made out a subscription. list and collected money. , I collected ICu from Mr G. Hunter, M.P., 5s from Mr Lyons, secrctary_of the Early Settlors’ Association; 5s from Mr Bethuue, and 5s from Air Luke. With this money I bought stores for Airs Robinson, including one hundredweight of coal for which I paid 3s 6d.” ‘The accused iu evidence said .that all the money lie received was spent upon the old lady. He knew how proud she was and consequently would not tell her he was collecting money on her behalf, because ho was sure she would not take it. He did not collect more than 25s altogether, and Of this 15s went to pay Airs Robinsonh insurance policy. He bought goods with the rest of the money, including two lots of coal. Ho would swear that he did not convert anv of it to his own use. He did not keep a list either of receipts or of expenditure. He had been an inmate of Ohiro Homo since October last. .. , His Worship said ho, would like to have Airs Robinson in the box again. Airs Robinson, recalled, stated that the accused occasionally brought in some provisions. She remembered receiving two lots, of coal. His Worship pointed out to the ac* cused that for the class of offence bo had committed the penalty might be imprisonment for twelve months. The accused should have been franker iu connection with his application. Mis Worship thought that a conviction ami an order that the accused should come up for sentence when called upon would be a sufficient penalty. The accused appeared to l)e a man of intelngoricc, and the magistrate warned him against acting in a similar way in future.