ASTONISHING STORY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 18 June 1931, Page 2

ASTONISHING STORY

FRAUD AND CREDULITY

“PURE AND UNADULTERATED IMPOSTOR”

(By Tclejfftiph—Press Association)

AUCKLAND, This Day. An astonishing tale of fraud and credulity was told in the Police Court when Claude McLaughlin (21), alias Claude Dolores, alias Dr. Claude Schneider, was charged with obtaining £92 by fraud, and stealing £lO in cash and a typewriter. There were also two charges of telling fortunes and intoxication in a car. Accused was arrested last week and remanded, but yesterday when he went to the police station to report he arrived in a car, drunk. The police said that in January a hotel waitress went to accused to have her fortune told. He told her she would be lucky if she invested in a rodeo company, and invited her to invest with him. She gave him altogether £92, including £SO for “stamp duty.” From another man he borrowed a typewriter and immediately sold it. A tram conductor had his fortune told and gave accused two £5 notes, although he had told accused that one of his predictions was absolutely false. Accused pretended to bum the bank notes, but it was only a trick. The prosecuting detective concluded: “He is a pure and unadulterated impostor of the worst type.” Counsel said accused would repay. The Magistrate, Mr Hunt: “Will he? He won’t be earning for twelve months.”