AUCKLAND ESCAPADE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9488, 12 April 1921, Page 5

AUCKLAND ESCAPADE.

POSED AS CLERGYMAN. a YOUNG MAN BEFORE COURT. j (Per (Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 11. A young man named Claude Osmonde Barker, 'Ab years of age, who had masqueraded as a clergyman m Auckland among business people, came before Mr Poynton, S.M., to-day on three charges of having obtained about £15 worth of goods on valueless cheques, and on three other charges of having attempted to obtain a motorcar and about £300 worth of drapery and furnishings by false pretences. Barker was also charged with being m unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. , According to the evidence given, accused, immaculately dressed m the cloth of a clergyman, stayed at the Star Hotel on the Thursday before Gc«~d Friday, and during the day called at several business places. ' He invariably produced visiting cards printed" "Rev. W. F. Don, M.A.," and intimated thai; he was just from Christchurch and that he had had his arrangements spoiled by the banks being closed for the holidays. On the strength of his appearance and manlier, he obtained a safety razor and a_ cigarette case at Coleman's, a camera at Suckling's, and clothing at Fowlds', m each case getting some change m cash, which he said he required for " tips " at his hotel. It was noticeable that each of the three cheques issued was signed "F. W. Don," not "W. F. Don," and that the printed numbers were cut from the cheques. The latter, he explained, was a Christchurch business custom. He visited the firm of Gillett Motors, Ltd., and entered, into negotiations for the purchase of a £925 Hudson motor-car. He had a trial spin, and, being unable to get immediate possession of the car on the cheque he proposed to give, he made arrangements to have. ...the use of' it until after the holidays, when he said he could fully satisfy the vendor of. his financial standing. He called at John Court* ?-*({ told . his usual story of bfiin~ a clergyman from Christchurch, transferred to Wellington, and on holiday to get married before taking J over his new charge. He had a ljs.t of * goods running from fur coats, carpets, silks, and satins down to gloves, the order totalling about £150 m value. He proposed to call m his car later and get the goods, hut the firm's credit manager got him on the telephone just before bank closing time and insisted on some satisfactory reference of his ability to pay. ' The business man stated that the goods could not be handed over m the,meantime. Accused had been to Andrews and Clark's and had selected (according to the list he had) household furnishings to the value of £150.

The " clergyman's " inability to back up with references any of his financial obligations came to the ears of Detec-tive-Sergeants Ward and Hammond, who visited him at. the hotel. Under persistent enquiry, accused failed to sustain his • ministerial character, and eventually owned up, when arrest was inesftlpable. "My name is Barker/* he confessed. "I have a business m Christchurch i with a partner as motor engineers, and I we have a partnership account m .the |']3ank of New Zealand. I think it is m credit to about £150. If I get a chance I will pay back the money I received here. I wanted to get married, and I thought I would get the goods m this way. I thought this stunt out, and thought I could pnll it off. I thought a parson's clothes would , bring them."

The detectives then found that aroused had arrived m Auckland on . •Wednesday, March 22, m ordinary clethes, and had engaged a sample room, stating that he was a commercial traveller. When they visited the sample room they found a large, empty wooden case, three large empty "trunks, and a suit case containing a change of clothing and a loaded' revolver. In one of the trunks was also a sheet of paper with the following plan of campaign written on it m accused's handwriting: — "Boxes, sample crates," etc; Must be put m hand as soon as motor is sold. Get to Auckland m time^ to look out. two houses,/ failing that take sample rooms or cellar storage (one house ordinary, .other "m dress). Arpivls m ordinary clothes, engage cellar, look round town, pick out. your marks, ; theja change and' engage another sample | room or house. Stay ; &t / ■best 1 hotel." ; Accused told Detective-Sergeant Ward , that he had intended iusing; the^ tnotdr' only for transporting gpjvds to the sample room, * and theh ;: somewhere else. Afterwards he would. have abandoned the car. :'■■■; „':' : >:<ui : '~ r J'H\' ' Barker, for whom Mr Dickspn an-; peared, stated that he wtruld ■formally plead not guilty, but that'Vtfb' the Supreme Court he would plead suiity.He was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. . . ■•"<•<•**#?