Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
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Articles
Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 30 Mar 1932
Page 2 Column 3
A BOGUS DOCTOR.
SIX MONTHS' CARE OF MENTAL CASES.
POLICE-COURT REVELATIONS.
SENT FOR TRIAL ON BIGAMY CHARGE.
Details of the astonishing career of an alleged bigamist who posed as a doctor, became Assistant Medical Officer in a mental hospital, and carried out the duties for six months, were revealed at Long Ashton (Bristol) Police-court on Tuesday.
Before the Bench was Norman Nelson KIRKUP, who had been extradited from Singapore.
On each of two charges he was fined £20.
They were:
Posing as a Bachelor of Medicine between March, 1931, and October, 1931, first at Clevedon and then at Bristol.
Falsely using the title of Dr. KIRKUP, or Dr. Norman Kelson <sic> KIRKUP, M.D., implying that he was a recognised medical practitioner.
“We think the fine is quite inadequate for the seriousness of the offence, and considering the very serious consequences that might have followed.” remarked the Chairman of the magistrates.
ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.
KIRKUP, described on the charge sheet as William FAULKNER, alias Norman Nelson KIRKUP, of Fishponds, was committed for trail on the following charges:
Marrying Anna Padfield COURT, at Clevedon, on October 27th, 1931, when his wife, Edith, whom he married in February, 1920, was still alive.
Obtaining by false pretences from Joseph Frederick COURT, with intent to defraud, a banker's cheque for £80; and
Obtaining by false pretences from the British North Borneo (Chartered) Company £68 2s 5d.
Accused pleaded not guilty to the charges of false pretences.
Mr. R. L. GOSLING, prosecuting, said that the name Norman Nelson KIRKUP was on the Medical Register, and belonged to a doctor in Detroit, Michigan. Defendant applied for and obtained the post of assistant medical officer at Bristol Mental Hospital. He stated that he had just returned from China after five years with the Canadian Baptist Missionary Society, and enclosing two references from Canada, where, he said, he was a M.R.C.P.S.
On one occasion he wrote a prescription which was made up by a chemist. For six months he carried out his duties with no complaints.
“I must make a comment on the utter inadequacy of the law in relation to this offence.” added Mr. GOSLING. “Here we have an unqualified man looking after mental patients for six months, and the maximum you can fine him is £20.”
Dr. Edward WHITE, medical superintendent of the hospital, said that KIRKUP's duties included prescribing for and examining patients. He sometimes gave anaesthetics for the dental surgeon, and witness believed he assisted in post-mortem examinations. His was <sic> was satisfactory.
THE BIGAMY CHARGE.
Mrs. Catherine Edith GLASS, of City-road, London, E.C., said that she knew defendant as William FAULKNER, who married her daughter Edith. Last October he told her that he had assumed the name “KIRKUP” and had obtained a post as radiologist.
Dealing with the bigamy charge, Mr. GOSLING said accused left his wife in 1926, but there was no doubt that he knew she was alive when he “married” again. He had written to his genuine wife and had sent her money to maintain herself and their child.
It was while going to take up an appointment in North Borneo that he was arrested by a police inspector who arrived at Singapore only a few hours before the boat in which accused was travelling.
Mrs. GLASS gave evidence again. “After his second marriage,” said witness, “accused wrote to his first wife, sending his love to her and their son.”
A certificate recording the marriage of “Norman Nelson KIRKUP, bachelor.” to Miss Anna Padfield COURT, was produced by Miss COURT's father, who added that he was at the wedding. After a honeymoon at Bournemouth, accused and witness's daughter sailed together for Borneo.
STORY OF LIFE.
According to a statement alleged to have been made by KIRKUP, he was a medical student at Queen's University, Toronto, in 1914, and during the war served in France with the Canadian Army. Later, after being wounded, he served with the R.A.M.C.
He mentioned that in 1929 he went into partnership with Dr. Percy POPE, with premises in London. Later he opened with a Jewish medical practitioner, Dr. Ernest ROSE, a sunlight clinic in Praed-street, Paddington.
In 1931 he became medical officer in a City firm, and was sent by them to open a clinic and nursing home in Nottingham. Last year he began to practise in medicine in the name of KIRKUP – his mother's name – and married Miss COURT. While in Bournemouth with Miss COURT after their “marriage,” he wrote to his “father-in-law,” asking if he would send a cheque for £90 to Thomas Cook & Son for his “wife's” return passage from Singapore.
Mr. GOSLING said that the charge concerning the British North Borneo Company was founded on the fact that KIRKUP obtained a position with them as a resident surgeon by representing himself to be a doctor, and that because of that he received £68 2s 5d from the Company for outfit and salary. He actually interviewed the Governor of Borneo, who was in London at the time.
<NOTES: Norman Nelson KIRKUP aka William FAULKNER married Edith GLASS and Anna Padfield COURT
Anna Padfield COURT daughter of Joseph Frederick COURT and Sarah Creed PADFIELD, married Norman Nelson KIRKUP and Frederick L. THOMAS>