"MAYOR OF WHANGAPE."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 123, 27 May 1929, Page 9

"MAYOR OF WHANGAPE."

YOUNG MAN IN TROUBLE. PIECE OF BLUFF." DISCHARGED WITHOUT SENTENCE. Described as "Mayor of Whangape without an election," Frank Bede Carroll, aged 30, appeared on summons at the Police Court this morning charged with forging a document. This criminal charge was not proceeded with, a charge of false pretences being substituted.

Chief Detective Hammond said Carroll had been employed as manager for A. S. Andrewes and Company's store at Whangape. He was also the postmaster in that native township. A Maori named Rudolph, who owed the store some money, received a parcel, on the wrapper of which it was stated that he had II 10/9 duty to pay. Carroll altered this sum to read l- £2 10/0" to pay. The jlaori paid this sum. "My client was appointed by Andrewes and Company to this God-forsaken place as sole manager," said Mr. Fraer. "His instructions were at the time he took over that he was to try to reduce the book debts, which amounted at the time to £2000. Carroll was manager of the store, postmaster, Customs officer, officer in charge of two harbours for the Marine Department, and a temporary justice of the peace. There are only a few white residents there. In fact, Carroll was the Mayor of the town without an election. (Laughter.) He refused to give any credit to the Maoris, and obtained such good results that in a few months he had reduced the book debts by £000. The Maori to whom the parcel had been addressed came to Carroll and told a hard-luck story, eventually getting credit for £1 10/. This Maori afterwards bragged to others that he had obtained credit from Carroll and said he would not pay. This annoyed Carroll considerably.

"When the Maori called for his parcel Carroll thought that the time had come when he could get some of his own back," continued Mr. Fraer. "So he altered the Customs duty from £1 10/9 to £2 10/9, and this the Maori paid. It was a foolish piece of bluff, which came off, but which had a bad aftermath. Carroll gained nothing by doing this. He has a large bank account of his own, and the extra money he obtained from the Maori was promptly credited to his firm's account." There was 110 criminal intent on Carroll's part, counsel submitted, and the charge should be reduced to one of false pretences and dealt with summarily by the magistrate. Mr. Hunt then reduced the charge to one of false pretences, and Carrol] pleaded guilty. "In View of the fact that this man has never been in trouble before, and that he had excellent references from the Post and Telegraph Department and A. S. Andrewes and Company, will your Worship consider dismissing the charge under section 92 of the Justices of the Peace Act and order suppression of Carroll's name?" asked counsel. "No, I cannot do that," replied the magistrate, "but' on account of his previous good character and because he broke the law not for his own benefit, but in order to help his employers, I will discharge him without sentence,. under the Offenders' Probation Act, 1920."