Confidence Trickster

Northern Advocate, 9 December 1948, Page 5

Confidence Trickster

LONDON, Wed. (11 a.m.)—Mr E. J. Cussens. prosecuting counsel in the case in which William John O’Shea, of Dunedin, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court, London, on charges of theft and fraud, said O'Shea pleaded guilty to three charges of stealing wireless sets and asked for two similar offences to be considered.

In all cases O'Shea bought the wireless sets on the hire-purchase system, but paid only one instalment and then sold them to dealers.

O'Shea also pleaded guilty to stealing £lOlO by a trick. Counsel said he told two men he was studying medicine, and was anxious to buy an expensive car. Because he was only in England temporarily, he could get immediate delivery of a car, and suggested that, if they put up the money, he could dispose of the car when he returned to New Zealand.

GOT MONEY BACK One of the men gave him £lOlO, which O'Shea deposited with the car company, but next day asked for the money back, saying he had decided not to buy the car. When he was arrested two days later only £SOO was left. Detective Coles said O'Shea had two previous convictions in New Zealand. He worked his passage to England as a galley boy, with the intention of studying medicine. He had been mixing in London with “a good type of people,” and had posed first as a medical student, but later said he was a fully qualified doctor. He had been working in various shops in London.