SAID HE WAS EARL’S SON

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 547, 27 December 1928, Page 12

SAID HE WAS EARL’S SON

IMPOSTER ROBS HOSPITAL PATIENT Arrested at Luton, England, Frederick Deerhurst, 45, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty, at Chertsey, to obtaining £l2 by false pretences from Ernest Charles Newstead, plasterer, of Chapel Park Road, Addlestoae, and £5 from Annie Pearce, of Hay fieldvillas, Rowtown, Chertsey. Newstead explained that he was a patient in Weybridge Hospital with Deerhurst, who afterwards showed him a letter and a cheque for £450, saying that he was the third son of the Earl of Coventry. Deerhurst asked for money until he could change it, and witness gave him £l2. They went to London, and Deerhurst took a taxi at Victoria Station asking him to remain for two or three minutes while he changed the cheque at the Westminster Bank. Witness remained, and Deerhurst disappeared. He had promised to repay and give him a present. Mrs. Pearce gave evidence that Deerhurst came to her house. After being with her a fortnight he suggested that his family was that of Coventry, and that the family name was Deerhurst. He’ showed her the cheque for £450, and went to London with her and her son to change it. He stated that he was going to see a friend and disappeared. Deerhurst was committed for trial.