FALSE PRETENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19413, 23 August 1926, Page 12

FALSE PRETENCES.

GOODS BOUGHT ON CREDIT. CHARGED TO A STRANGER. A HUSBAND IN HONOLULU. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT;] CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday. Tearful and looking very sorry for herself Sylvia Webb, following on her acquittal on charges of false pretences, appeared at the Magistrate's Court to-day before Mr. Widdowson, S.M., to answer a charge of securing goods valued at £2 19s 6d by false pretences. She pleaded guilty. "This case is brought under the Police Offences Act," said Chief-Detective Gibson. "This woman went to the D.I.C. and bought goods, putting them down to Mrs. H. C. Harley's account. She did not know Mrs. Harley, but she knew a lady who did know her."

The woman was convicted in 1911 for falso pretences and in 1912 for theft, he continued. She then left New Zealand and now her home was at Honolulu. She came to Christchurch seven months ago and had been staying at the White Hart Hotel.'

Mr. McLaughlan, who appeared for accused, said his client had had a very poor upbringing. She had, however, married an American citizen of fairly high repute.

Tho Magistrate: Are these facts verified ?

Mr. McLaughlan: Yes, they have been verified through the American Consul. Continuing, counsel said there had been considerable,misunderstanding with regard to the woman. She had had a serious illness during her stay in Christchurch and had been unable to write to her husband. She had had certain money, of her own earning, but through expensive living and due to her illness she had gone through' this. Her husband had agreed to send out money for her passage home, but owing to her arrest on charges -of which she had now been acquitted she was unable to catch the boat. Since those charges had been made the woman had been subjected to a great deal of agony. She felt, however, if she went homo to her husband and confessed, everything would be all right., If. however, she were retained in Christchurch she felt that her. whole life would be done.

The Magistrate: Why did she not realise these things before the acts ? Mr. McLaughlan: It is admitted that there is no explanation. Counsel said the woman had returned the goods concerned in the other charges to Ballantyne's. She was not such a dishonest woman as one might believe. He' submitted the case might be dealt with by convicting the woman and ordering her to come up for sentence when called upon or sending her home to her husband.

The magistrate said if he did send the woman home to her husband he could not be sure that she would go. Mr. McLaughlan: - Her husband .is in Honolulu' all right. I have some cables from him.

The magistrate remanded the accused until Tuesday for the probation officer's report..'" ' , '. - ■