SERIES OF FRAUDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19730, 1 September 1927, Page 13

SERIES OF FRAUDS.

"OUT-AND-OUT SCOUNDREL." PROBATION TERMS BROKEN. REFORMATIVE DETENTION. '■' This man is an out-and-out scoundrel —one of the worst I have had to deal with," said the probation officer, Mr. W. J- Campbell, in the Police Court yesterday when Harold Raymond Kerr, aged 27 (Mr. Jordan) appeared on seven charges of false pretences and one of failing to oomph' with the terms of probation. The charges of false pretences involved obtaining from Newdick Brothers two boxes of butter valued at £7 9s 4d ; from E. W. Griffiths a crate of eggs, valued at £2 13s 6d, and a further crate and a box of butter, valued at £6 6s; from Samuel Parker, Ltd., a ton of corrugated iron, valued at £3O; fr«m Allan Gabriel Foley, a tyre-cover, valued at £5 4s 6d; and from Hillier Russell, 16 gallons and a case of motor spirit, valued at £2 0s 4d. Accused pleaded guilty to ail charges except those of obtaining the tyre and petrol. Hillier Russell, petrol dealer, said accused went to his premises in Newmarket on June 29, He said his father, who was a carrier, wanted to know whether he could obtain the commercial users' discount if he obtained petrol from witness' pumps. He took a case of petrol, saying his father wanted it for his lorries on the Monday morning following. Witness became suspicious of accused when he said his father would pay by cheque on Monday morning and rang up the father, who denied knowledge of the transaction. James Henry Kerr, father of accused, said accused had no authority to obtain any goods on his behalf. Allan Gabriel Foley said accused stated he wanted a tyre-cover for his father. He took two at different times, but one was returned. Mr. Jordan said accused had obtained the goods not for his father, but for himself. He had been in employment as a carrier and had done some business. Accused, in evidence, said he gave his own name to the people, not that of his father. Chief-Detective Cummings: You started these operations last January and you have kept them up. All along you have been misleading the police with 4 pack of lies. You have returned only a small proportion of the stolen property. Where is the remainder'!— Accused: I do not know. Mr. Cummings: No, you have been treated too liberally by this Court. There have been other charges like this against you. You are not a carrier at all. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.: Oh, yes; he carried stolen goods. The probation officer said accused had been placed on probation more than once. He had failed to adhere to any order. It was one of the worst cases that had come under his notice. Accused was married and had left his wife and child to starve.

The Magistrate: Time after time the Court has granted you leniency. It is no good. We know how to deal with such as you. You will be sentenced to reformative detention for a period not exceeding three years.