NEARLY GOT V.C.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 56, 7 March 1930, Page 9

NEARLY GOT V.C.

GAOL FOR FALSE PRETENCES.

"EXCELLENT SOLDIER, BUT

ROTTEN CIVILIAN."

VALUELESS CHEQUES.

"This man was an excellent soldier, but is a rotten civilian," said Mr. A. V. Fraer . about his client, Henry; Ray .Vercoe, aged 48, a half-caste Maori, who, at the Police Court this morning, pleaded o-uilty to eight charges of obtaining a total of £35 19/6 from various persons by means of valueless cheques. . „ It was-stated by Detective Sergeant Keliy that accused was living apart from his wife. Recently he ''had been touring the country, stating that he was obtaining signatures of natives to certain documents. "These charges of false pretences are nothing new to him, said Mr. Kelly, "and Vercoe is not a stranger to the court, for he has 11 previous convictions for false pretences." .■■■ "Vercoe.is a highly educated Maori, said counsel. • "Imuet apologise for saying something about: the war—l know it is- all over and done with—but still 1 would like to tell your Worship that Vercoe went away "from New Zealand and served at the South .Africa ll - war, and also saw. service in the Great Waiv • Mr. Hunt:. His list shows that he had two convictions for false pretences before the' war—in 1912. . -Mr. Fraer: That's correct. A few minutes ago, in this Court, Mr. Tole, .the incoming president of the Law Society, told me ; tha Vercoe was the bravest man he ever saw at the front. He knew him, and, in fact, he recommended, him for the Victoria Cross. It was only because of his two criminal convictions that he neyer, received the Cross. Vercoe is a brave man, but ho" seems to have a kink. He owris*2ooo acres of land, and he was due to receive £300 from the Native Land , Court, bivt recently the_ matter was held up by some.proclamation. He could; not get the money, and was in urgent need of it. Drink is also responsible for "a good deal of liis trouble. : "I don't doubt that he was a'good eoldierand.a'braye man," said Mr. Hunt, "but in 1912 he was convicted' on two charges of false pretences, in 1922 on five charges, and again in 1928 there were more convictions." Vercoo was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, to be followed by reformative detention for a period not exceeding 12 months.