A GRUEL HOAX

Evening Star, Issue 19760, 10 January 1928, Page 6

A GRUEL HOAX

£33 OBTAINED FROEVi WOMAN

[Pee United Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, January 10,

Tliomns James Campbell, a laborer, aged forty-eight, pleaded guilty to-day to obtaining £33 by means of a false pretence, the story being that ho went to a registry office in Palmerston North, representing that he was a well-to-do farmer of Taihape, and wished to engage a housekeeper. He engaged a woman named Blanche Cook, and obtained £33 from her by explaining that he was temporarily embarrassed and wanted to truck some stock to the farm. He sent the woman to Taihape, where she found she had been hoaxed. Accused also admitted obtaining £5 by valueless cheque, and £3 from Charles Simpson by representing that he was n relative of Simpson’s son-in-law. Accused previously served terms of imprisonment for false pretences, forgery, and theft. Pie was sentenced to six months (concurrent) on the two minor charges, and on the third charge was convicted and ordered to come up within three years if called on. a condition being that he repay the £33 at £1 a week after discharge.