FALSE PRETENCES.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11398, 8 October 1902, Page 10

FALSE PRETENCES.

ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT.

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr R. Beetham, S.M., a man named William M_ln«r Barrett, who was a-rested on Sunday at Ashburton, pleaded guilty to two charges of fa.se pretences; the first. of having on September 27th obtained goodvalued at lis 6d and the sum of 20s in money from __-_m*_s Sharp, and the second, of having on September 29th obtained from tbe same person 40s in money. Chief-Detective ahrystaU stated that the accused bod told Mr Sharp that he was a mining expert, and represented a Gee*on_: mining syndicate; also that be had £50 to his credit in the Bank of New South Wales at New Pivmouth. and £1000 to his credit in Australia. He had got clothing from Mr Sharp, and two advances of money—one of £1 and another of £2. He gave Sharp a cheque for £3 12s 6d, which -was subsequently found to be valueless. Accused had been passing himself off as p. preacher. Mr Beetham: "Oh. that is worse and worse." The accused .handed the Magistrate a visiting card, asking that tlie information on it _ho_id not be made public Mr Beetham: "Everything is -pubbc here. This describes you as city engineer of Nelson." The Accused: "I was appointed to that position, but was discharged, foT drunkenness, and this is the e_td of it" Mr Beetham: "This is a most impudent business." To accused—"Have you no excuse to make?" The Accused : "I have no excuse to make. If you can deal as leniently as possible with mc I will get out of the country, and try and redeem the past." Mr Beetham: "I question very much whether this is the first of this business. You will bo convicted and sentenced to two montbs' imprisonment with hard labour."