TWO YEARS FOR FRAUD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18553, 10 November 1923, Page 10

TWO YEARS FOR FRAUD.

« HOODWINKING " OF FOOLS.

OFFENCES AT NAPIER.

APPEAL FOR CLEMENCY.

IBS TELEGEAPH.-OWN CORRESPONDS J WELLINGTON, Friday. \ system of fraud, by which it was said money was extracted from any person foolish enough to be hoodwinked was the basis of charges of forgery and uttering and false pretences at Napier, admitted by Gerald Leonard Knowles, a man of 40 years of age, who appeared before Mr. Justice Reed in the Supreme Court to-day, for .sentence. The prisoner made an emotional appeal for 'clemency. He said that he had j been depressed for a considerable time, and had encountered misfortune .after misfortune Added to this, he had expected financial assistance from England but this . had been delayed. Seeing that his business on which he and hi* family were dependent, would be lost, he committed the acts "Although I did these things, ssid the prisoner, with considerable emotion, "I am not of criminal instincts, and was unbalanced at the time. I have since repaid a considerable sum, but apart from whatever the Court may do to me, I will repay the remainder for my own peace of mind. My wife and family need me. They are dependent upon me give me a chaace, and I shall go straight. I shall repay." His Honor: It seems that what you repaid was robbed from someone else like robbing Peter to nay Paul. Prisoner: No, sir. The money I used was that which I received from home. His Honor referred to certain portions of the police report, which stated that while his business was practically insolvent, the prisoner borrowed money from ■anvone who was fool enough to be hoodWnked. He had plenty of liabilities, but few assets. ' • The depositions, gaid His Honor, showed that the prisoner had carried out extensive_ frauds, and for these he must be punished. He would be sentenced to two years' imprisonment, with hard labour.