ELABORATE FRAUD.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19759, 14 December 1935, Page 9

ELABORATE FRAUD.

MAXIMUM FINE IMPOSED. BENEFITS FALSELY OBTAINED. ' (By Telfigrapn—press Association.) AUCKLAND, Friday. The maximum fine of £2O was imposed by Mr W. R. McKean, S.M., in the Police Court to-day on George Alexander Mitchell, aged 59, a war pensioner who pleaded guilty to making a false declaration for the purpose of obtaining a benefit under the Unemployment Act. The police said Mitchell was a single man, tout in 1931 he registered as an unemployed married man, with a wile and three children. From then on lie received various benefits. In 1932 when an inspector from the Department called, Mitchell said his wife and family were in Brisbane. Asked for evidence, he produced two letters purporting to come from his wife, stating that she was receiving money. Later he produced numerous ton Its of postal notes which lie said lie had sent, to his wife in Australia. The Department noted the serial numbers of the postal notes and later discovered that they had been cashed in Auckland. Interviewed by the detective accused admitted the charge. He said lie had been living with a woman who wrote the letters. This woman died in August last. Between 1931 and 1935, Mitchell had wrongfully obtained £204 from the Department and had filled in 22 false statements. “Tim Indy I was living with was very sick,” was all that defendant said to the Magistrate.

Alh McKean: Do you think that an excuse? This is as had a case as anyone could imagine, and such a fraud is difficult to discover. Defendant was refused time to pay. Hie Magistrate staling that if he could not pay lie would have to take it outin goal.