CAREER OF CRIME

Evening Star, Issue 18030, 26 July 1922, Page 2

CAREER OF CRIME

A REMARKABLE IMPOSTOR. THEFTS FROM DUNEDIN TO AUCKLAND. [Special to the ‘ Star.’] WELLINGTON, July 26. A remarkable story was told in tho Police Court to-day, when a young man named Hercules Andrew Turnbull alias Andrew Rutherford, alias Nichols, appeared on the,following charges;— On or about May 15, at Murchison, theft of an 18ct gold engagement ring, valued at £l9, the property of Howard Francis Fawcett. On or about March 14, at Dunedin, theft of a gold bangle valued at £3, and 7s in money, the property of Thomas Forsyth. On Juno 20, at Wellington, by false representation did obtain board and lodging, alleging that ho was a clerk in the Public Trust Office transferring from Auckland, to Wellington. On or about July 11, at Wellington, unlawfully wearing military decorations. On June 13, at Wellington, the theft of ten dozen writing pads, half a dozen nail brushes, and' other articles, of a total value of £1 17s Bd, the property of Arthur Ross. On July 6, at Wellington, a similar theft of the property of Arthur Ross, total value £1 13s 2d. On March 25, at Oamaru, the theft of an overcoat, valued at £5, the property of Wilfred Herbert Tilbury. On March 24, at Dunedin, did obtain from James Francis Meldrum a euit of clothes valued at £6 7s 6d, also £3 12s 6d in money, by means of a valueless cheque. On Juno 15, at Auckland, attempting to obtain the sum of £lO from Charles Stager by means of a certain false pretence that he was tho son of the late A. H. Turnbull, of Christchurch, and that he had been robbed on the Auckland express. On Juno 14, at Marten, did obtain from Raymond William Ward the sum of £2 17s 6d by a false pretence, representing that he was employed by the Public Trust Office, en route from Wellington to Auckland, and had been robbed on the Auckland express and had insufficient money to carry him on his journey. On Juno 17, at Grovetown, the theft of a bicycle, valued at £l4, the property of Claude Milland. On or about June 9, at Picton, the theft of a camera, valued at £lO, the 'property of Cecil Bay; the theft of an overcoat, valued at £5, the property of Maurice Filtshire. On June 19, at Taihape, did obtain £1 16s from the Taihape Patriotic Society by falsely representing that he was No, 29,432 (ex-Sergeant H. A. J. Morris,, late N.Z.E.F.), and that he had been robbed in th© railway refreshment room at Frankton, en route to Wellington, On March 24, at Dunedin, did, in incurring debt for the hire of a motor car from Dunedin to Oamaru, obtain credit by means of fraud. Accused, who was unrepresented, pleaded guilty to all of the charges. Sub-inspector M'Namaxa stated that accused was only twentymne, and had previously been before, the coru-t in Christchurch on a charge of robbery under arms. He had then worked honestly for a time, but had finally embarked on a career of crime. In Dunedin he was in the employ of a milkman, and stole from bottles various sums of money. Ho then persuaded a taxi driver to convey him to Oamaru, where Turnbull stated his father was residing, and would compensate the driver, Accused’s father did not materialise, and Turnbull rewarded tho taxi man for his free ride by stealing his overcoat. He then journeyed on to. Murchison, where he had stolen an engagement ring ; following which, at Picton, a bicycle and a camera had been stolen. Accused then went to Wellington, where he bad committed several thefts, but had finally moved on to-Morton, where he t had led a person to believe that ho was a public servant on transfer who had been robbed on tho Auckland express. By means of this pretence he had obtained money. At Auckland accused attempted to obtain a substantial sum of money by representing that he was a son of tho late A. H. Turnbull, Christchurch, and had been robbed on the Auckland express. On this occasion he had been requested “ to come back later,” but, of course, he did pot return. This was the only occasion on which he had failed. Turnbull had then returned to Wellington, where he approached Mr Arthur Ross, and, after telling a tale of hardship and misfortune, had been given a suit case full of various articles for the purpose of selling them.’ Accused had sold the goods, but had misappropriated tho i money. When approached concerning the matter lie stated that ho had sent the money to his wife, who was destitute in Christchurch, whereupon Ross had given him another suit case full of goods, - O n this occasion both Turnbull and the goods had disappeared. Tho Sub-inspector continued that during the last five and a-lialf months accused had clone nothing but travel about the country and commit crime. None of the stolen property had been found, and there was no prospect of its recovery. Actingdetective Healey had been responsible for accused’s arrest.

His Worship: You are' sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, to bo followed by a term of reformative detention not to exceed three years. That will keep you quiet for a while.