"AN EXPERT"

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 27, 1 August 1932, Page 9

"AN EXPERT"

f^ALSt PRETENCES

OLD MAN IMPRISONED

"It is with regret I have to sentence jan old man like you to a considerable term of imprisonment, but in view of j-our record that seems to be the only thing I can do for you," said Mr. W. 'SEL. Woodward, S.M., at the Magistrate's jCourt to-day when he imposed a term jof nine months' imprisonment on James SUcLean, aged 82, for obtaining £11 10s .tflrom Levi Smith by false pretences. Senior-Sergeant Scott said that MctLean had been employed as a eook at ,Clay Station, Martinborough. On 27th •June >h:e came to Wellington and booked in at the Terminus Hotel. The following day he told the licensee, Mr. Smith/that"'he intended'to :stay at the hotel for some time. He said that he ;was the owner of a 500-acre farm near uVlartinbqrpngh and.was.going to sell it and come and live in Wellington. Practically every day he telephoned to JMartinborough, and this led Mr. Smith ito believe that what the accused said ja.bout the;farm was correct. In addixion to lending the accused £11 10s, iMr.. Smith introduced him to a land .agent, to whom McLean told ,the same fetory,- and on the strength of it obtained £2. He said that the land was worth ,j£;2o per acre,, and that'.there-was no i"monl!ey" (meaning no debt) on the ■farm. -.Knowledge also came to the police ihat the accused, befo're coming ,to AVellington, had obtained £2 from a iMrs. Simms on the representation that he was coming to Wellington to draw (a, £900 insurance policy on his life. In laddition to the £11 10s he had obtained 'Strom Mr. Smith the accused had incurred'a debt for fraud amounting to !£7 10s. : ',;"■■•.. x

'' This man's previous convictions f^ill convey to your Worship that he is an expert at this sort of offence," said tMr. Scott.

The Magistrate to the accused: *?Have you anything to Bay?" The accused: "It is no "use making an excuse. I was under the influence of liquor." ' "What do you say is your age?"— *'I wUlbe 83 on 19th October." "You have no means at all?"— ''Only cooking." Senior-Sergeant Scott: "He had only Ed on him when he was brought in jsir." Mr. Woodward to I;he accused: ""Why f3id.you- leave your employment?" •'Tired,.l suppose, and thought I wanted a holiday." On charges of obtaining sums _of £2 feach from the land,agent and' Mrs. Simms, and obtaining credit by fraud, the accused was convicted ami ordered to come up for sentence within nine inonths if called upon.