STRANGE CASE OF FRAUD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 54, 27 November 1917, Page 4

STRANGE CASE OF FRAUD

YOUNG WOMAN SENTENCED FOR FALSE PRETENCES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland] November 26. Christina K. M'Donald, 20 years cf ago, who pleaded guilty to live charges of obtaining by false pretences during August and September sums totalling £76 from Kenneth A. M'Leod, came up for sentence at the Police Court today. Chief Detective M'Malion said the young woman had faced two trials at the Supreme Court in respect of a previous charge, but that fact bad not deterred her from indulging in further frauds. As far back as 1915 sho had written letters for the purpose of misleading her relations, particularly bor father. The letters purported to have come from New York, and referred to a supposed rich uncle, and the young woman had a considerable amount of cunning to allow timefor this information about the "American uncle" to become known, first to her immediate relatives and later to relatives whom she intended to deceive. She told a relative of hers by marriage that this rich undo had arrived from America. She said he intended to give her mother some property, and bo wanted a loan of £16, as he had no | immediate means, the Government having held back his money. The £15 was 1 obtained. Later tho young woman said her "uncle" owned the National Bank property in Queen Street, and that a well-known Auckland solicitor was his lawyer. These deceptions wore carried on until sho had obtained a total of £75. Mr. M'Leod was rung up on several occasions by someone, who said he was the rich uncle. The girl now said that she had done so, but voice had been that of a man. The police considered it was somebody else, but the girl refused to say who it was. Not ono penny tho £75 had been recovered. Sho bad played a. very cunning game, and was a danger to tho community. Tho Magistrate said the case was one of tho most extraordinary ho had ever como across. For a young girl, the prisoner had shown an exceeding degree of criminal cunning. Her letters read lilto an American novol about a high-class "crook." Reformative treatment for not more than three years was ordered.