FORGED DEGREE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20768, 1 July 1937, Page 5

FORGED DEGREE

COMPANY MANAGER’S OFFENCE REMANDED FOR SENTENCE By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, June 30 The charge of attempting to cause a person to act on a forged degree as genuine, preferred against Fergus Stanley Hickey (38), company manager, was proceeded with before Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M.. to-day. Charles John Drake, chief clerk of the Health Department, said the accused was written to last September that a complaint had been received that he was practising as a medical practitioner, and that his name did not appear on the New Zealand register. Accused rang the office in reply and left a message tor witness. Last February, in consequence of a further complaint that the accused was examining candidates for life Insurance the matter was referred to the police In reply to the September letter accused left a message that the diplomas had been lost in the Manuka and that he would register later. In March he called on witness, and said that Detective-Sergeant Doyle had Interviewed him—that he had qualified at the University of Melbourne tn 1921, and produced a certificate purporting to be under the hand of th< registrar of that university. This certificate was the subject of the charge and was produced by witness. Accused at the time said he was not practising, and asked if the Depart ment was satisfied as to the docu mentary evidence. Witness replied that the Department was satisfied provided he did not practise without being registered in New Zealand. Accused left saying he was going to the detective office to show the certl ficate. On June 8, in response to a telephone call, accused called to see witness, with the certificate, which was taken possession of by the police To counsel, witness said accuseo had not at any time made application lor registration. Expert testimony was given by a hand-writing expert that the certificate was a traced forgery. Detective-Sergeant Doyle said that accused, on being told that nls nameappeared in the telephone directory as a medical officer of the Dominion Life Assurance Coy, replied that he had occupied the position of genera 1 manager for ten years, but was not responsible for the listing in the directory. His home telephone num ber was a private one, as it had been pointed out to the P. and T. Department. He gave an undertaking if have his name removed from the directory list. In response to anothei question he said he was the only medical man in the office, and that he obtained the degree of M.R.C.S in London In 1920 or 1921, but hao never been In practice in New Zea land or elsewhere. He did not examine people for life insurance purposes more than to peruse and accept or reject the medical reports submitted by other medical men. Witness failed to find accused's name in the reglstet of the Royal College of Surgeons, and Interviewed him again. He said he did not tel! witness he had obtained his degree at London, but Melbourne What he had meant to say was that he sat for the degree in London and failed. Later on, on March 25, accused brought along the certificate produced. As a result of police Inquiries at Melbourne, witness got pos session of the certificate on June 8, and on June 14 saw the accused at the hospital. Accused said his life had been ruined through his own foolishness. He had taken poison, anad admitted that the certificate was a forgery. Hickey pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. On a charge of attempted suicide, to which he also pleaded guilty, the accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon.