#relief fraud

"SENTENCE IMPOSED FOR LODGE THEFTS," Toronto Globe. April 5, 1933. Page 10. ---- Ivan A. Thatcher Given Three Years by Magistrate in London ---- TAX ISSUES DEBATED ---- (Staff Correspondence of The Globe.) London, Ont., April 4. - Three years will be served in Portsmouth Penitentiary by Ivan A. Thatcher, former Treasurer of Court Brighton, A.O.F., who was sentenced today by Magistrate T. W. Scandrett, K.C., for theft of lodge funds. Thatcher drew the long term for theft of $2,186, and was given three terms of six months each, concurrent, on charges of falsifying the books and forging relief orders which he used to cover the shortages in his accounts. Magistrate Scandrett denounced his breach of trust in severest terms.

A plea of guilty, was entered by Ernest Cooper, who was charged with obtaining $148 from the City Relief Department by misrepresenting himself as supporting his estranged wife. He was remanded for sentence.

"JURY CLEARS WOMAN OF RELIEF CHARGES," Toronto Star. June 16, 1933. Page 20. ---- Relief Administrators and Investigator Give Contradictory Evidence ---- Oshawa, June 16 - Contradictory evidence by Relief Administrator J. C. McGill of the Oshawa public welfare department, and by Miss Lois Faulds, investigator, preceded the jury acquittal of Mrs. Nellie Harris at Whitby late yesterday on the charge of receiving relief under false pretences.

Miss Faulds admitted that she and Mr. McGill had talked over the case after witnesses had been excluded from the court.

Relief Administrator McGill alleged Mrs. Harris had taken an affidavit to the effect she was destitute, and following that had been given relief. It was disclosed from other sources that she had money owing her.

Runs Too Fast "Stay where you are, Mr. Skinty; you can run too fast," shouted Chief of Police Owen D. Friend when Thos. Skinty made a move to leave the courtroom yesterday after Magistrate Creighton reserved judgment for a day. Skinty explained he wanted to make arrangements by telephone for bail. He was allowed to go with a police constable. The charge preferred was illegal possession of liquor.

"JAIL PENALTY FOR OBTAINING AID BY FRAUD," Winnipeg Tribune. July 11, 1933. Page 1. ---- "This is the very sort of case I have been trying to stop for some time," declared Magistrate Graham, in city police court today, when sentencing William J. Robbins. alias McInnes, to three months in jail for defrauding the city relief department.

"More Jail Terms For Relief Fraud," Ottawa Citizen. June 15, 1934. Page 2. --- Magistrate Strike Regrets Painful Duty, But Says Public Must Be Protected. ---- Jail terms were drawn this morning by two Ottawa residents for obtaining relief by fraud in failing to disclose income they received. Both charges were laid as the result of investigations by Officer George Gray.

John Duffy, 840 Somerset street, did not report $60 he earned and was sentenced to one month in jail and George Faucher, 42 Garland street, to six weeks, both sentences to date from June 9th when the men pleaded guilty to the charges.

"CLAIM MAN ON RELIEF HAD $500 SAVED UP," Toronto Star. February 20, 1934. Page 34. ---- Remanded on Bail-Bondsman on Relief, Taxes Unpaid, Home Mortgaged ---- On complaint of Capt T. E. Heron of the civic welfare department, police last night arrested Giuseppe Battista, aged 34, contractor, on a charge of obtaining relief from the city under false pretences.

When Battista appeared in police court to-day, he was remanded for a week after bail of $1,000 had been arranged with some difficulty.

His bondsman was on relief, his 1932 and 1933 taxes were unpaid, and he had a $1,000 mortgage on his house.

"Outside of that everything is all right," remarked W. B. Horkins, K.C., counsel for accused.

Investigations completed by Capt. Heron are said to show that accused received eight city contracts since 1931, in which sums from $280 to $1.235 were involved.

Battista is alleged to have stated that he had no work for two years and no bank account for three years. However, welfare department officials contend Battista's bank account has been active and after the last city contract in Sept., 1933, claim it contained $500.

It is also alleged that Battista first obtained relief from the House of Industry in 1931 and that for a brief period in 1932 he was not on the lists. In the fall of 1932 he was again on relief and again in April, 1933, officials claim.

Investigation followed a statement at yesterday's meeting of city council by Con. Sam McBride, who raised objection to a contract being given Battista to build a lane running west from Linsmore Cres. to Greenwood Ave.

"This man was on relief and is still on relief," Con. McBride told council. "I have drawn the matter to the attention of the welfare department, and it is well in hand."

Battista first appeared on the relief lists in April, 1933, Captain Heron informed The Star to-day. He had been receiving direct relief from the House of Industry, and was taken over, when the present system was put into effect. On May 24, the official explained, Battista signed a statutory declaration before a J.P. swearing he had no means of support or money in the bank.

During succeeding months, Captain Heron said, two investigations were made, but each time both Battista and his wife signed statements that they had had no work for the past two years and no bank account for the past three years.

"I was able to prove," he continued, "that Battista has had a fairly active bank account since 1930 although I cannot find any balance at present. At one time there was $3,000 in it."

In 1931 Battista is said to have performed five contracts, several in 1932 and one in August, 1933, for $1,080. Even as late as last December, it is alleged, he carried out a contract for $300.

"The acceptance of these contracts made us suspicious," Captain Heron stated.

Explaining the system by which a family goes on civic relief, Captain Heron said an application was first made out by the indigent, then a statutory declaration was signed by the applicant before a justice of the peace, in which everything concerning the applicant was explained and sworn to.

"B. C. GOV'T TO END 'RELIEF RACKET'," Vancouver Sun. May 29, 1934. Page 5. ---- PRESENT SYSTEM TO END AUGUST 1 --- PUBLIC WORKS TO REPLACE BULK OF DIRECT "DOLE" ---- By NORMAN SENIOR VICTORIA. May 29 - Relief as presently administered in British Columbia will terminate on August

Positive announcement to this effect was made today by Premier T. D. Pattulle, following a brief meeting of the Cabinet.

Re-registration of necessitous cases will be permitted after Aug. 1 under new regulations to be laid down by the Minister of Labor.

"Numerous advices and complaints have been received from all parts of the Province that unemployment relief, as it has been administered, has become a racket, stated the Premier in issuing his announcement.

"Relief as at present administered will, therefore, terminate on Aug. 1.

NONE TO SUFFER WANT "It is the policy of the Government that no one in the Province shall be allowed to suffer for want of necessaries of life, but after Aug 1 there will have to be a registration.

"There is no doubt whatever," the Premier said, "that the present position of affairs is breaking down the morale of our people. So far as possible within the resources of the Province necessary works will be carried out and it is understood that Ottawa will have a program of its own."

This decision was not unexpected in circles close to the Government.

Investigations conducted by special representatives under direction of Hon. George Pearson in the last two months are understood to have disclosed glaring abuses.

The results of the investigation were such that it was freely discussed in Government circles that the only remedy was to cut off the whole present system.

Another contributing factor was the decision of the Dominion Government not to enter into another full year's agreement for relief as communicated to Premier Pattullo by the Dominion Prime Minister in Ottawa recently.

TO AUGMENT WORKS The saving on relief will enable the works program to be augmented both by the province and municipalities.

Of the 109, 862 persons existing on relief in April no fewer than 60.939 were dependents, leaving than 49.000 adults, of whom 7165 are in defense camps: 20.052 are single, and 21.686 are heads of families.

"QUESNEL, ZAMONSKY GIVEN PRISON TERMS," North Bay Nugget. May 9, 1934. Page 1 & 2. --- Sequel to Sudbury Relief Frauds: Prisoners Break Down --- JUDGE LAUDS JURY ---- (Special to The Nugget) Sudbury, May 9. - Wilfred "Shorty" Quesnel, 32, former Sudbury relief officer clerk, was sentenced to four years in penitentiary for conspiracy and forgery, and his accomplice, Ralph Zamonaky, 27, to two and a half years for conspiracy and uttering, by Mr. Justice McFarland, at the adjourned Spring Assizes here today. They were convicted by a jury yesterday afternoon after a lengthy trial.

Both prisoners broke down when sentence was imposed, Zamonsky falling to his knees on the floor of the dock. Quesnel covered his face with his handkerchief, and his shoulders shook with emotion.

Fairly Tried "You have been tried by the finest jury that has ever come before me, or that I have pleaded before," His Lordship told Zamonsky. To Quesnel he said, "You have been tried by an extraordinarily intelligent jury, your trial has been very fair."

Imposing the lengthier sentence on Quesnel, His Lordship said he believed he was the instigator of the crimes, and that the younger Zamonsky was led by him.

"I am not going to make a speech," he told Quesnel. "I have already said how seriously I consider your crime, particularly at a time when it is so important to prevent public unrest. You were a public servant and you betrayed your trust."

Pleas of Counsel Pleading for leniency for his client, J. J. O'Connor, Quesnel's counsel, declared that the prisoner should never have been placed in a position of responsibility as he was unfit for it either by experience or education. J. M. Cooper, counsel for Zamonsky, stressed the youth and previous good record of his client.

"He is the youngest of a family of eight, all of whom are very respectable people," he said. "He has been in Canada only four years and during that time has been a good citizen."

Change Pleas Zamonsky changed his plea of not guilty to one of guilty on conspiracy in another indictment and was sentenced to two and a half years on that count, to run concurrently with the first sentence.