“M.A.” WRONGFULLY USED

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1931, Page 11

“M.A.” WRONGFULLY USED

FINE OF £2O £T AUCKLAND.

“HAD DIPLOMAS IN AMERICA.”

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Auckland, Aug. 21. Spencer Bone was fined £2O or a month’s imprisonment to-day for publicly using the initials M.A., intending to convey that he had a university degree. Detectives said that Bone was known as Dr. Bone and conducted a course in astrology. In a circular he described himself as M.A., .1.R.D.5., F.R.S., undertook publicly to read charts, and invited people to become members of the New Zealand Association at £1 per year. Defendant was formerly in Christchurch, running a theatrical school and proposing to produce movies, but it came to nothing. Bone requested an adjournment to enable him to secure his diplomas from America.

The magistrate, Mr. Hunt, said that he would grant an adjournment if defendant would swear on oath'that he had diplomas, but warned him that if that was untrue he would risk prosecution for perjury. Defendant declined io enter the box and, when fined, declared that he would produce the diplomas later.