LOANS SECURED BY FRAUD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19412, 21 August 1926, Page 12

LOANS SECURED BY FRAUD.

NO REPAYMENTS MADE. CONVICTION OF TWO WOMEN. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. ] CHRIBTCHURCH, Friday. Five charges of obtaining credit by fraud were preferred against Ada May Phyllis Birchall and t Ivy Hazel Ida Birchall in the Supreme Court, to-day. It" was alleged that they obtained £7 from Rose Davies on January 6; £9. from Margaret Roach on Mar oh 13; £7 from Mary Collins on March 20; £9 from; John L. Prussing on March 15; and £7 from' Leslie Norgrove on January 26. 'The accused pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Donnelly, the Crown Prosecutor, said that three of the offiehces alleged were" committed in Christchurdh and one in Wellington. In all cases the , same system was followed. The acpused inserted advertisements in newspapers stating: "Young lady wants to boiTow privately £9; repay in 12 weekly instalments. Confidential." Lenders handed over money, but no instalments were paid. If the jury though that the accused made the promises without any intention to pay the money back it must find that they got the money by fraud, said Mr. Donnelly, -but if it was believed that no matter how difficult their financial position might be, they. honestly intended to pay the money back it must be found that they did not commit a criminal offence. In that c&se the only liability of the accused would be a civil one aud the fact that the lenders had no chance of getting back their money did not affect the position. The accused apparently travelled under a great number of names. In Wellington they made a statement to the police that was not altogether true. The jury retired at 11.43 a.m. and returned at 2.30 p.m. with a verdict of not guilty in respect of the transaction with 1 Miss" Davies and of guilty against both accused on all the other counts. His Honor said that accused acted under the spur of necessity.; ■ Mr. • Donnelly said that the female probation officer, Ensign Newton, felt that the accused should be given, an oppor-. tunity. ' Ensign Newton said that- the accused, would be given a temporary home by the. Salvation Army. The accused were ordered to come np for sentence when called upon within two years, on condition that the Salvation j Army took care of them.