CRAFTY MAORI.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 139, 14 June 1932, Page 8

CRAFTY MAORI.

DEFRAUDED HOTELKEEPER. BOGUS LETTER FROM « FATHER." 'ADVANCE ANY MONEY REQUIRED.' (From Our Own Correspondent.) GISBORNE, this day. Considerable ingenuity was displayed by a young Maori, Tame Taukama, in defrauding a hotelkeeper, ,Tosc]>li Martin, of £24 17/6. Taukaina pleaded guilty when charged before Mr. I'. 11. Harper, S.M., and was sentenced to six months in gaol, this to be followed by 12 months' reformative detention. Detective McLeod complained that accused and his 'wife came • to Gisborne

from Hastings on January 16 and put up at Martin's hotel. He said he intended to stay for a week or two and that lie had £8(5 due to him from the Native Land Court, also that the money was being held by his father at Ruatoria. Two days later, Martin received a letter purporting to be from the father, in which he was asked to advance accused any money he might require, the letter stating that the father held £86 on accused's behalf, and would be coming to Gisborne shortly. A fortnight later, the detective added, Mr. Martin received a telephone message purporting to 1 bo from the father, wtating that he regretted that ho had not been able to come.to Gisborno . sooner, and again asking the liotelkeeper to -advance any money accused might require. The last ■ sum was advanced on February 26, and after that accused disappeared, but was subsequently "arrested at' Ruatoria. He admitted .that he had written the' letter and had telephoned to Mr. Martin.