SMART FRAUDS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10843, 12 March 1929, Page 6

SMART FRAUDS

WENT INTO CHURCH. RELIEVED PRIEST OF £2

Clever dupes worked on two wellknown Gisborne citizens the other (lay had their humorous side, and this aspect was thrown into bold relief in the Police Court yesterday. Daniel Patrick O’Connell, alias Alatthews, alias Connell,. aged (30, appeared before the Magistrate (Mr E. C. Levvey) and admitted obtaining from Michael John Kyne hoard and lodging valued at £3 and falsely representing he was a.farmer buying a farm in the district, and on March S obtaining from Rev. Father Murphy £2 by falsely representing lie had bought a farm at Ormond. Evidence of previous character given by Detective AlcLeod showed that he had been in the district a fortnight and had a list of 38 convictions for false pretences and thefts in various parts of the North Island. Outlining O’Connell’s activities here, the detective explained he had arrived in Gisborne a week or ten days, go from Tauranga and stayed at” the Albion, representing to the licensee his name was O’Donnell and that he was hero to buy a farm. Whilst there he became acquainted nvith a. man and his wife, who were in poor circumstances. He represented to them that he. was Chas. Matthews, a sheepfarmer, and wanted a married couple for his station. The pair were anxious to secure theposition and accepted, their wages being fixed at £3 weekly. He told them they would require no furniture. as hei had a furnished house for them, and! he arranged" to meet the couple on Friday to take them out to the station. ’ The couple, therefore, sold up tho few belongings they possessed on die representation they would require no furniture and went to meet accused on Friday, hut he did not put in an appearance. On Saturday, O’Connell called on the Rev. Fhther Murphy and informed him that he had purchased a farm at Ormond. He also told the priest that lie was about to be married in six weeks’ time and asked the latter to officiate. He accompanied the priest into the church to take the sacramental conditions and on coming out obtained a loan of £2 from Father Miurphy on the strength of his story. (Laughter.) The detective added ho had arrested accused at Makaraka on Sunday,, where he was representing that he was also buying a farm. In view of Connell’s long list of offences, the police officer re, commended a long sentence should be imposed. Accused' had nothing to isay. He was sentenced to three months hard labor with 12 months’ reformative treatpiept to' follow,