CITY FIRMS HOAXED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 139, 14 June 1935, Page 14

CITY FIRMS HOAXED.

YOUNG MAN SENTENCED. "GOOD AT TELLING STORIES." To seventeen chargee of fraudulently obtaining money and goods of a total value of £18 3/10, Alexander Rennie, aged 25, a hairdresser, pleaded guilty in the Police Court yesterday.

Senior Detective Hall said Rennie had, until April, been working in Taneatua, where he became acquainted with two firms. Knowing firms in Auckland with whom the Taneatua. firms transacted business, Rennie came to Auckland and called on them, representing himself as the son of the principals, and on other occasions as an assistant of the country firms. "His method was to inspect stocks and give orders for delivery of goods to the firms at Taneatua," said Mr. Hall. "As a result much inconvenience resulted through goods being sent which were not ordered by the firms. Rennie Avas good at telling stories that he had lost at the races and that he had been robbed of his money in a boardinghouse, and he was readily given small sums of money, and also goods such as watches. All the property which he obtained in this' way he sold to pawnbrokers. This property hae been recovered. He has a number of previous convictions."'

Rennie had nothing to say to the magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean. The magistrate said Rennie had been previously given a chance which he did not appreciate. Although the present charges did not involve large amounts, the offences were committed over a period, and he would have to be again punished.

Rennie was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, to be followed by 12 months' reformative detention.