IMPUDENT FRAUD

Northern Advocate, 14 July 1933, Page 7

IMPUDENT FRAUD

THE “OPPENHEIM BANK.” HUDDLESTONE DE 4.LT WITH. TWO YEARS’ GAOL. ' (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, Thursday, “His was one of the great3st frauds ever put across in this country,"’ said Detective-Sergeant McHugh in the Police Court today, when Frederick Joseph Huddlestone, ag ; ;d a clerk, appeared on thirteen .charges of imposing on persons by falsely representing that certain sums of m mey were for fidelity bonds in the easiness of 1 ‘ ,1. Oppenlieim and Company, bankers. ”

Pie pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years’ gaol, with hard labour. Mr McHugh said the accused, on January 23, booked at a city hotel as 11 J. Oppenheim, ” and advertised for an accountant at £BOO and a clerk at £330. He interviewed numerous men, engaged an office, and said the firm was opening branches in many towns. Many of the men gave,up permanent positions and paid him £4 17/6 for fidelity bonds. When his associates were . arrested accused disappeared, but was found at Waipawa under another name and working on another scheme. Mr McHugh also said that numerous tradesmen and working people had been victimised, as goods had been obtained and work done which was never paid for. Huddle-stone was

no sooner out of gaol than he was scheming to take others down. He had defrauded people in Hamilton and Pukekohe. He had no pity on, young or old—they were all the same to him. Counsel for accused said Huddlestone was a married man with a wife and child, and was unemployed when he devised the scheme. The magistrate, Mr F. K. Hunt, said he would be kept out of the way for two years.