LANDLADIES DEFRAUDED

Hawera Star, Volume L, 17 April 1930, Page 6

LANDLADIES DEFRAUDED

FIVE CHARGES AGAINST YOUNG MAN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.^ WELLINGTON, April 16. “He seems to liave gone off the deep end all of a sudden and allowed credulous landladies to keep him while he committed these offences,” said Mr Leicester in referring to Clifford Seddon Drummond, a motor-driver aged 21, who appeared before-Mr E. Page, S.M., in the Police Court to-day on three charges of theft and two of incurring debts by fraud. « Sub-Inspector Ward said Drummond arrived from Gisborne early in January and stayed at a boarding-house in . Thorndon under the name of Davis. He told the proprieti’css that a service car driver had sent kisjuggage on to Auckland by mistake and that his cheque book had gone with it. As a result he was allowed to incur a debt of £3 5s for board, the woman also advancing him money. It was then found that the accused was not working in the town as he said and he left the hoase with a promise to secure the money to pay his debt. After he left two hair brushes valued at £2 were missed from a boarder's room.

Drummond then wciit to Petone under the name of Duncan. He negotiated for the purchase of a soft drinks lounge. He was allowed to live in the shop, ostensibly to leara the business, and while there he Avas given £2 11s by the Avoman OAvner to pay an insurance premium. The amount Avas not paid and accused kept the money. He secured oil and petrol valued at £6 13s 6<l from a firm on the -representation that lie Avas conducting the lounge.

Drummond later went to another boarding-house, where there lived a working jeweller, and he 3tole watches and jewellery valued at £LB from him. Most of this had been rejovered, but there still remained £l7 for which restitution was asked. When arrested accused was sleeping out. A remand for sentence tans granted until to-morrow morning.