FUNERAL EXPENSES

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 120, 21 May 1920, Page 7

FUNERAL EXPENSES

MEAN CASE OF FALSE PRETENCES.

Herbert Henry Workman, a tailor's assistant, pleaded guilty at the Magistrate's Court this morning to aY charge of having obtained four sums of money, totalling £18, from Johan Theodore Jorgensen. manager for J. T.Lewis, Ltd., by false pretences.

Detective-Sergeant Andrews read a statement made by the complainant. Workman had come from Christchureh in January, and had been engaged by his firm. On 23rd April the man came to complainant and said that he: had just come from the Hospital, where his wife had died. He commenced to cry. and said that he did not know what he was going to do with his children. The man was drunk at the time, and complainant advised him to keep sober, and .come back to work after the funeral. Later, Workman came to complainant and asked for some money to pay the funeral expenses. Two sums q; £6 were, advanced towards the burial expenses, and on each occasion the man had wept continually. The employees of Lewis, Ltd., had subscribed and purchased a wreath, and when the bearer of the wreath visited the house he was invited to go inside to see the coffin, but did not accept the invitation. The funeral, according- to Workman, was to take place at 9 a.m., and on account of the early hour the firm's employees were not able to attend. Some, days later, Workman made another reqneat for money, in order that he might' send his children to Christchurch. On. this occasion £4 was advanced, and a day or two later a further sum of £3 was handed over to the man in order that he might be able to pay his board. On that occasion Workman had said that he could not keep ?.-.vay from Karori—he was continually finding himself at the cemetery. Complainant later, ascertained that Mrs. Workman had not died, and asked Workman for an explanation. The man rang up next day. and said- that he had made a- "terrible mess of things," and advised complainant to fee his wife.

Mr. C. A. L. Tread-well, who appeared for the defence. asked that the accused should be given a chance to repay the money, that he should bo placed upon strict terms of probation,, for, were the man sent to Raol,' his wife and five yomi» children would suffer. The man's action had ueen particularly mean, but no doiibt liewonld not have behaved as he did had he not been bordering upon delinurn tremei.s for a fortnight, and his moral rectitude "bent to that extraordinary degree."

The Jlaeistvate, Mr. F,.Pa ge , remanded t»f accused tilljVJondnY for sentence. m order that the Probation, Officer may supply a . report, iff regard to the matter.