"NO HUNTING GROUND."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18171, 17 August 1922, Page 9

"NO HUNTING GROUND."

■— m — -r. '-.; CRIMINALS FROM AUSTRALIA. WARNING FROM THE BENCH. SENTENCES FOR FRAUD. When sentencing itvro prisoners for false pretences and fraud in the Supreme Court yesterday, Mr. Justice Stringer made it plain that men with dubious records in Australia would have to realise that New Zealand is not a happy hunting ground for persons of their calibre. James Francis Nclligan, who was convicted of false pretences on Tuesday, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. Mr. Moody, for prisoner, said he understood that his client would not be fortunate enough to escapo imprisonment. His Honor: You will realise now why 1 said what P did to \*u yesterday. Mr. Moody: Yes sir, but I said he had escaped conviction. Continuing, counsel said that prisoner left Auckland for Sydney partly because his child was ill, but there was no doubt a more pressing reason why he should get back. Counsel suggested that as Nelligan had been in custody for three months His Honor should take this fact into account. , Prisoner's relatives were prepared to find £100 toward making restitution, and counsel suggested 'lie ho placed under control of the probation officer until full restitution had been made. Mr. Meredith sajd prisoner had been carrying on the same class of business in Australia as that of which he was now convicted. As a matter of fact, a warning had been sent to business people in New Zealand to be on their guard against him. The warning, however, • came too late. In sentencing prisoner, His Honor said it was not a case in which ho could apply the provisions of the First Offenders' Probation Act, The man came from Australia with the deljberate intention of raiding the community in Auckland. He arrived here on April 12. immediately started swindling operations and got .away on May 5 with over £200. "I must make it plain," said His Honor, "to the men of criminal dis- I position in Australia that they cannot look upon New Zealand as a happy hunt- ' ing ground." Prisoner was sentenced to ! 12 months' hard labour. Lionel Norman Hftig (Mr. Singer), for } false pretences and firaud, was similarly dealt with. " ' Mr. Singer said prisoner was only 24 \ years of age, and prior to getting into l the company of another man, who had ' since died, he had led a respectable life. { He came of a very good family. Haig J had been 16 weeks in custody, and he - asked His Honor, in view of his youth, to extend as much leniency as possible. ' Referring to a report on prisoner's £ antecedents, His Honor said it appeared \ he had been known by several aliases. & It seemed that this was a case of a man I with a dubious record leaving Australia and coming over here to rob the un- l suspecting people of New Zealand. "I 1 will treat him," said His Honor, "in «J the same way that, I treated the other c Australian gentleman, and give him 12 1 months' imprisonment." j Mr. Singer asked the Court to make I a pronouncement in respect of the £48 j found on Haig -when he was arrested. ' He said he had an order for this money, i Mr. Meredith raised the point that this money should be the property of the people prisoner had defrauded. He said that as Haig had done no work here; it Was reasonable to assume that this money was part of tlae stolen property. His Honor said he could not make atu order in th» direction indicated'by Mr, Meredith as the money was not traceablo to its rightful owner.