YOUNG WOMANS FRAUD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 180, 2 August 1932, Page 11

YOUNG WOMANS FRAUD

DOCTORS BECOME VICTIMS POSING AS AN HEIRESS . LONG CAREER OF DECEIT i Many doctors m Britain have been interested in tho exposure in a London Court of a young woman's career i of fraud. Prosecuting counsel declared , that the police regarded her as the most persistent begging-letter writer in their records and doctors were inI variably her victims. - | The woman began a career of cal- ■ | culated deception in her early teens, aud until the pretence was discovered i posed as an heiress iu expectation oi a large sum of money from abroad. Ignoring the leniency extended to her - on previous occasions, she cried bitterly when sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. Dark-haired and attractive, but apparently apprehensive of the punish--1 ment awaiting her, Jean Atherton, aged 27, canvasser, pleaded guilty before Mr. Cecil Whiteley, K.C., to obtaining two sums of £3 from two doctors by false pretences. According to prosecuting counsel, who prosecuted, Atherton fastened on the medical profession, and traded on its generosity, as doctors were misled into believing they were helping a brother in distress. Her method was to go into a public library and choose the names of two doctors, one of whom was in the colonies. She would then communicate with the other in England, purporting to be the stepdaughter of the one in the colonies, and ask for financial assistance, as her step-father was iIL If successful, accused sent another begging letter, requesting a further advance. In two instances she rep- . resented herself as the step-daughters of doctors in New Zealand and South ' Africa. Asherton, counsel explained, I said she wished nine other similar ; cases to bo taken into consideration. Samples of Letters Reading what he described as a typical letter, counsel quoted the following phrases:— Dear Sir, —I do hope you will pardon me writing to you, out I do so at my father’s request, as, owing to unforeseen circumstances, namely, the sudden death in Capetown of my stepfather’s brother and trustee, wc find ourselves temporarily stranded hore without any money at all, and unable to pay our bill for our rooms. So my step-father wandered if you could possibly, for old times’ sake, help us by lending him £3 until April 11. . . It is quite dreadful to be stranded without any money at all in a strange place, with two invalids, and you will understand it is so necessary, in my lather’s present state of health, for all worries to bo kept from him if possible, and the landlady is bo unpleasant about her rent. . . I am really desperate with worry, for, although I am 20, I feel so hopeless against this dreadful trouble. . . Could you, if it is not troubling you too much, reply by return, as it is so urgent? Please, for the love of God, do help us! Detective-sergeant Allen stated that Atherton was born at Clapham, London, in 1905, and later went to a convent school at Newquay, CornwallShe left school at the age of 10. At one time her father was a student at St. Thomas’ Hospital, but failed to qualify. In 1923 Atherton was bound over at Falmouth and ordered to refund £H> which she had obtained by fraud. After that she worked as a governess for some time, and in October, 1924, she was charged with her father at Torquay with false pretences. She* was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour, and herfathei received six weeks’ imprisonment. In Maj-, .1924, continued Sergeant Allen, Atherton was charged with her mother at Weston-super-Mare, Somer *et, with larceny as bailees ot tw<» coats. The mother was sent to a mental hospital, and the daughter was bound over for 12 months. Begging Commenced Atherton went to Cardiff and began io write begging letters, but the police were unable to induce any person to prosecute, as her victims wore doctors who resided a considerable distance from the city. In November, 1925, accused father's mother died and left her father £250, but owing to his wayward habits the terms of the will were that he received £5 per month. His daughter was also left £2OO, and this sum was paid to her in full in 1927. While at Cardiff Atherton tried to obtain £5 from the V.A.D. Services Committee of the United Services Fund by false pretences. Tn .1928 she was sentenced to 2< days' imprisonment. at ('ardiff for false pretences, and in 1929. at Portsmouth, she got six months on a similar charge. She returned to Cardiff in January, 1930. and took her father and mother out of the Poor Law institution. Then she commenced to broadcast begging letters until things got too hot for her. When she loft her landlady’s sheets and blankets also disap pen red. Subsequently she sent out similar appeals from Shepherd’s Rush, and at Cardiff, after being arrested on a warrant in March. 1930, she was bound 05 er on rendition that she went

into the Convent of the Good Shepherd at Ford, Liverpool, for 12 months. Eighteen Months In Prison After leaving Liverpool accused took a position with a Bootle woman, who befriended her. Having suggested that her parents had died at Barnstable leaving her a large fortune, Atherton went away, and the woman missed money and clothing. In July, 1931, Atherton, with her father and mother, arrived at Yeovil, having apparently been on the tramp all day. The mother went into an institution, and later tho father and daughter left their lodgings owing £2. While at Yeovil Atherton again sent out begging letters. “Atherton.” concluded the officer, “is known to the Charity Organise ti o n So ci et y an d the Roy a I Medical Benevolent Fund as the most persistent, begging-letter writer in the conn try. When arrested she had in possession the names and addresses of doctors in Yorkshire, Blackpool, pen-, zanco, Colchester. St. Ldonards-on-Sea. Isle of Man, Manchester and' Porkshire. ’ ’ Mr. Whiteley, remarking that Atherton seemed determined to live a life of crime, sentenced her to 13 months 1 imprisonment.. She was led f/o ra tne dock weeping bitterly.