“AN OLD FRAUD”

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 95, 17 January 1924, Page 8

“AN OLD FRAUD”

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO “EVERYTHING” I A £l2O TOMBSTONE Tombstones for deceased wives and jewellery to present to daughters on the occasion of their forthcoming nup-. tinls were the alternative orders on which a labourer succeeded in cashing n number of valueless cheques, ranging in denomination from £2 to £125. The story of his career was related to Mr. AV. <l. Riddell, S.M., in tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Accused was T. 0. Williams, alias George Harper, alias John McKenzie, and ho was called upon to answer four ' charges of false pretences and two of .. attempted false pretences. The amount .. . involved on the ma jor counts was £3l Ills., while the remaining two infoimations set out that-he had attempted to obtain by means of valueless cheques goods to the value of £24 ss. and £2O ’ in money. ?■ “I plead guilty to everything, announced accused with a wave of his hand. . According to Chief-Detective Kemp accused’s venerable appearance was a deception; in reality the man was an old fraud. II s list was a formidable one, dating back as far as 1890, and containing as many as 25 convictions for false pretences, as well as 14 on other charges, up to 1921. The present escapade commenced on Aiigust 21, 1922, and by means of false representation concerning either his wife’s death or the forthcoming marriage of a daughter, he succeeded in taking down monumental masons, jewellers, bank managers, and hotelkeepers On August 21 last I o called on a Mr. Henry Glover at Wellington ■' and advised him that his wife had ■ died, and expressed a desire to erect a tombstone to her memory. The stone was to cost £l2O, and accused calmly presented a cheque for £125 and walked away with the change, £5. That was the last Mr. Glover saw of his client or his change. Accused on another occasion visited a Petone jeweller and attempted to perpetuate a similar fraud there, with the exception of a mention that he was purchasing tho jewellery for a daughter about to bo married. Pahiatua and Shannon were also favoured with his patronage, and as the result of his efforts he had netted about £3O. “He is 84 years of age,’’ added the chiefdetective. Accused was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on each of the major charges and three months on the minor, the terms to run concurrently. “Thank you,” mumbled accused as he left the dock.