FRAUD BY A WOMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19456, 12 October 1926, Page 13

FRAUD BY A WOMAN.

MANY CHARGES ADMITTED. OFFENCES IN SEVERAL TOWNS. CHILDREN IN CARE OF STATE. "She is a notorious liar, and there is no doubt that she and her husband are out and out frauds," said Senior-Detectivo Hammond at the conclusion of the hearing in the Police Court yesterday of a number of charges against Muriel Forbes Reid, aged 27, otherwise known as Mrs. Bussell or as Olive Muriel Goodwin. She was charged that at Auckland on September 30, by incurring a debt with Hannah. 11. Lee, she obtained credit by fraud for lis 3d; that at Wanganui on September 6 she stolo a gramophone valued at £l4, the property of La Gloria Gramophones, Ltd.; that at Atickland on September 30 she obtained credit by fraud from Winifred E. Burton for £6 3s lOd; that on September 4at Auckland she obtained £2 in money by falsely representing that she required it to go to Palmerston North, where her husband had been killed in a motor accident; that on September 1 she obtained £2, ostensibly for a similar purpose, by representing that her husband had been injured in an accident; that on September 30 she stole a piece of georgette and a piece of crepe de chine valued at £1; and that at Wellington on August 24 she obtained goods to the value of £lO 16s by means of a valueless cheque. All the offences were admitted. Theft of a Gramophone. The senior-detective said accused's husband had been managing a station on the Wanganui River. He issued valueless cheques, accused being associated with him in the offences. Accused endeavoured to purchase a gramophone valued at £39 from La Gloria Gramophones, Ltd., on the hire-purchase system, and paid a deposit of £2. The particular typo of gramophone which she asked for was not in stock at the time, but accused said she was giving a party and required a gramophone urgently. A gramophone valued at £l4 was therefore lent to her for the occasion. She took it to Wellington and stored it under an assumed name, but it was subsequent!}' recovered. Accused came to Auckland early in September and took a house in Great South Road at a rental of £4 per week, and engaged a maid. She told stories to the effect that her husband had been injured and obtained various sums of money. Sho was then arrested and remanded to Wanganui on the charge of stealing, the gramophone. At Wanganui she obtained bail and came back to Auckland. At Palmerston North she told the railway authorities a tale that she had lost her purse and tickets. She was trusted ana' was given a first-class ticket and a sleeping berth. She failed to appear at Wanganui in answer to her bail. Remanded For Sentence. In Wellington she had used a valueless cheque to obtain money. Information had just come to hand that there were two further similar charges against her in Wellington, but no good purpose would bo served by adding them to the list. Accused had three children with her in Auckland, and they were now under the care of the Education Department. Two other children were in a home in Wellington, and there was a doubt whether she was not the mother of another child which was also in a home. She was now pregnant. Major Gordon described accused's children as "lovely children," but said the case was certainly not one for probation. Under the circumstances, however, there seemed to bo no other course open. Accused had stated that her mother in Wellington was willing to take care of her and the children, but it was impossible to believe accused's word. IE her statement could be confirmed accused might be placed ori probation on strict conditions. The senior-detective suggested that as accused's word could not be relied upon inquiries should be made by the police, accused being remanded in the meantime. The magistrate, Mr. Hunt, agreed to this course and a remand was granted to Thursday.