BOGUS DOCTOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23505, 20 May 1938, Page 10

BOGUS DOCTOR

SHIPS INSPECTED PILLS GIVEN TO SAILOR CREWS QUARTERS ROBBED While posing as a doctor, a young man, who had formerly been a cook at a boxer’s training camp, hoaxed a ships captain and conducted a medical examination of a sailor. On other occasions, in order to gam access to ships, he masqueraded as a sanitary inspector or Board of Trade official. Once on board them, he carried out an inspection of the crews quarters and carried ofl whatever he cruld lay his 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 ol thefts from ships while they were lying in harbour; one of negotiating a seaman’s advance note for £3 and lading 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 snips which had been visited by McGinty were the Meta, Sunslono. Sagiang, Senta, Kautanger and Yearly. These ships, explained Mr Mac Lean, were foreign vessels, and in two eases McGinty actually caused the captain to produce a fumigation certificate to him. As a result of expressing a desire to inspect the crow’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 Mi Mac Lean. were of a similarly impudem nature. “ DANGER TO COMMUNITY ” McGinty, he went on. was a man who had been'given a considerable number of chances to make good, and nacl 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 ue disappeared in rather discreditable circumstances. McGinty turned up again later, ana 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 Drymcn. 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.