CHARGE OF FRAUD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19394, 31 July 1926, Page 12

CHARGE OF FRAUD.

AMERICAN WOMAN ACCUSED. MANY PURCHASES OF DRAPERY. PARTIES AND CHAMPAGNE. [by telegraph.—press association.] CHKISTCHURCH. Friday. Charged with having obtained goods to a total value of £lO6 13s 3d from J. Ballantyne and Company, Ltd., by fraudulently representing that she was Mrs. Hunt-j of Chatham Islands, an American, Sylvia Webb, appeared before Mr. H. A. Young, S.M., in the Police Court to-day. Detective-Sergeant Young asked for a remand until August 3,' but Mr. At-ack, for accused, asked that the case should be heard sooner. Mr. Atack said the American Consul had instructed him to appear for the accused, who was an American citizen, her husband being at present in Honolulu. She had been in hospital in Christchurch and her passage had been arranged on the Aorangi, which would sail from Auckland on August 3. If she did not get away on the Aoraxigi she would probably miss her husband, who was to meet her at Honolulu. ■ She had very little money and would be practically stranded if she could not leave soon. Herbert Alexander Hunt, a farmer, of Chatham Islands, said he had been staying at the White Hart Hotel since June. He had been introduced to accused soon after he arrived at the hotel and had seen her there several times since. He had given hor no authority to purchase goods ju the name of Mrs. Hunt or in his own name. He was married and his wife was at Chatham Islands. Further examined, witness, admitted going with her to parties, but they Jiad gone with other friends. Ha had supplied some of tho champagne at one party they went to. He had occasionally bought drinks for accused. He had never taken champagne to her room. He had bought her one box of chocolates. He had never bought her silk stockings. " I never said anything of the sort," said witness, when Mr. Atack suggested that he had told accused to book up anything she wanted at Ballantyne's. Mabel Nelson, an assistant at Ballantyne's, said that oil June 5 a jvoman called at the counter and made a purchase. She entered it to Mrs. Hunt, Chatham Islands. . The same woman had obtained other goods and had charged them to Mrs. Hunt. Elsie Green and Ivy Dorothy Rhodes, both assistants at Ballantyne's, gave evidence of a similar nature regarding the purchase of goods, including a dress costing 23 guineas, by a woman who charged them to Mrs. Hunt. Charles Harrison, credit accountant at Ballantyne's, said the firm had an account for Hunt and the purchases had been made in his name. Acting-Detective Mayne read a statement made by accused in which she said Hunt had told her to go to Ballantyne's and get/ anything she wanted, charging the goods to Mrs. Hunt. Mr. Atack submitted that no prima facie case had been made out against accused. All that they had to go on was [ the word of Hunt, and his evidence had been halting and full of discrepancies. ' The magistrate ruled that there was a case to answer and accused was committed for trial at the sitting cf the Supreme Court to be held on August 17. Bail was allowed, self in £IOO, and one surety of £IOO.