CONSPIRACY CHARGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 August 1942, Page 8

CONSPIRACY CHARGE

LIVING RENT FREE

SYDNEY, July 15. A lift-driver, his wife, and 161 year-old daughter were charged at the Darlinghurst sessions yesterday with conspiracy to defraud. They were stated to have lived practically rent free for some years by becoming tenants of a series of expensive houses, and never paying more than the first week's rent in advance. Tney were also alleged to have obtained goods from trades-people, which had never been paid for. . . The accused are: —William Patrick O’Donnell, 52, lift-driver. Eileen Ann Mary Jennifer O’Donnell, a2, and Irone O’Donnell, 16. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr. C. V. Rooney, said that the accuseds method was to gain tenancy of a house by payment 01. a weeks len.., and then to continue residence until ejected by civil law process, which o'enerally occupied several months. The houses they had so occupied at rents around four to five guineas a week were in select suburbs such as Bellevue Hill, Vaucluse, anu Rose Bay. Once they got into a the Crown alleged, it was difficult to shift them. The landlord s only _Recourse in most cases was m piocess ol civil law. While living in these lent free” houses, Mr. Rooney said, the three accused had combined to. Lat e goods purchased on credit wnhout any intention ol paying loi the.,c. These goods included a radio-gramo-phone combination and a ‘ the three accused moved kom uousw to house their name was changed, but it always l remained high-sounffing m keeping with prominent . names m New South Wales social circles. The husband he said, invariably remained in the background, filling the outward role of gardener or handyman, urn Mrs. O’Donnell and her daughtei po. - ed as persons of substance from Ouppnslcincl ov other States. Mrs. Jessie Lamb, o£ Elizabeth said that , when the two female accused applied to her for the rental of her cottage at Vaucluse they gave tl name of Blaxland. Witness added that on paying one weeks rent or guineas Mrs. O’Donnell said she would like to take the place for live years. Prom July 12, 1940, until September 3, 1940. only a week s rent had Ki paid. Witness as a result was our of pocket about *-60. c Evidence was given by l ei , ■ Bradfield, estate agent, who said he had let a house at Bundarra Road, BdlJ® HUI to the tw° temate accused. who had given the name o Cordon The rental was £4/4/- a Seek? but all that was paid was the first week's rent. The accused wei e Ul W?lliam Patrtck wife, Eileen Ann Maiy O’Donnell, were each sentenc h _ months’ imprisonment R rl \eii daugh tor Irene O Donnell, 16, was ooimu over to be of good behaviour lor two years The girl was recommended to mercy by the jury because ot her age and environment. Alter the sei^ en she hysterically appealed to the Judge not to send her parents to gaol. She was assisted from the court and re ju<Se' Marked said that the two adult prisoners had been found guilty S' a bare-faced swindle, and had existed for nearly two years by cheating, apparently thinking that they were acting within the law. Mrs. O’Donnell said that the reason for moving from house to house was due to the persecution of agents, who had put it around that she was a bad tenant. ~ The male accused said he had notning to do with the entering on tenancy of any of the houses. “I took no interest in these movings,” said the girl accused. “I thought it would be all right, if mother said so.”