PROFESSOR JOAD EVADED FARE

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 3661, 16 April 1948, Page 3

PROFESSOR JOAD EVADED FARE

N.Z.P.A.

Special Correspondent.

FINED FOR FRAUD Brains Trust Member Who Forgot

LONDON, April 14. Dr. Cyril Edwin Mitchinson Joad, the well-known member of the B.B.C. Brains Trust and head of the Department of Philosophy and Psychology at the University of London, was fined £2 with 25 guineas costs at, Tower Bridge Police Station for evading the payment of a railway fare between Waterloo and Salisbury. Professor Joad, who was represented 'by the New Zealander, Mr. John Platts-Mills, pleaded guilty. Mr. :R. E. Seaton, .prosecuting, described the offence as "a conimon tieket fraud." Professor Joad and his secretary, said Mr. Seaton, joined the Exeter train at Waterloo on January '5 and hooked two plaees in the restaurant car for dinner. After the train passed Salisbury, Professor Joad was asked. for his ticket. He 'said lie had boarded the train at Salisbury, and because he was in a hurry had been let through the 'barrier without obtaining a ticket on the platform. Admitted Mistake When later ehallenged by the collector, who pointed ont that he had booked two dinners at Waterloo, he denied that he boarded the train there and repeate'd. that he got on at 'Salisbury. In all he denied f our times . that he had travelled' from Waterloo, but at Exeter finally ..admitted that he had made a mistake and tendered the full iare from London. Sixteen days later, eontinued Mr. Seaton, Professor Joad's solicitors wrote to the .Southern sRegion Railway Ifeadquarters, referring to. "the unfortunate repereussions any prosetution would have upon a person of the standing of our elient, who is, of course, an internationally-known lecturer and author." Dinners, But no Ticket Mr. Platts-Mills argued that Professor Joad's conduct at Waterloo, when he ordered a dinner for himself and his secretary, showed that he had no intention of evading payment of his fare. The magistrate said Professor Joacl had pleaded guilty and there was no question that he was guilty. There could be only one fine, and that was the maximum. "