BOGUS DETECTIVE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 88, 7 January 1933, Page 13

BOGUS DETECTIVE

Money Falsely Obtained MAN’S MEAN ACTION Falsely representing himself to be fl detective, David Charles McGill, aged 3S, told a Wellington woman that a relative of hers had been arrested and was being detained at the police station, and that his only chance of gaining his liberty was for him to leave town immediately. To do this he would need money. The woman gave McGill £3. ! Anxious to get news of her relative, the woman rang the police station, only to find that she had been hoaxed. Detectives Ritchie and T. Smith made inquiries and later arrested McGill, who. in the Police Court yesterday, admitted assuming the designation of a member of the Police Force, and also obtaining £3 by falsely representing that he was a detective. The facts of the case were outlined by Detective-Sergeant Reveli to Messrs. W. H. Jones, and H. H. Price, J.P.’s. who decided to convict McGill and order him to come up for sentence within six months if called upon, on the first charge, 'and to impose a fine of £5, in default one month’s imprisonment, on the second. An order was made' for restitution, of the £3. It was stated that accused, who was released from prison in October last, had a lengthy list of convictions, principally for theft. Detective-Sergeant Revell described accused’s action in obtaining the money from the woman as very mean. He considered the offence of posing as a detective as serious. Many Convictions "This is his 115th conviction,” said Sub-Inspector Martin in reference to Patrick Sullivan, who was charged with his third offence of drunkenness, and with wilfully damaging a cell utensil, valued at 11/6. On the first charge accused was fined £l, in default three days’ imprisonment, and on the second was convicted" and ordered to make good the damage, in default two days’ imprisonment. Sub-Inspector Martin added that accused did not deserve any consideration at alt Other Cases Charges of being found unlawfully on premises at 31 College Street were admitted by Peter Grasis, carpenter, aged 52; Alexander Wilson, plasterer, aged 44; and Gertrude McKenna, aged 46. who were each fined 10/-, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment. John Fitzgerald, labourer, aged 40, was fined 10/-, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment, for his second offence' of drunkenness, £l, in default 4S hours’ imprisonment, for resisting Constable Hammond, and £2, in default four days’ imprisonment, for wilfully damaging a police uniform. Remands until January 11 were granted to Peter Douglas Seymour King, motor driver, aged 17, who was charged with stealing . a .grease-gun. valued at 18/-, the property of Lionel Preston; and to Rex Hill, bootmaker, aged 19, charged with attempting to steal 50 gallons of petrol, valued at £4 11/8. the property of Charlie Joseph Clark.