CREDIT BY FRAUD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21332, 5 November 1932, Page 15

CREDIT BY FRAUD

OLD OFFENDER IMPRISONED A CRIMINAL ON LICENCE l'leas of guilty were entered by Richard John Rackett, aged 58, engineer, when charged in the Police Court yesterday with failing to comply with the terms, and conditions of his release from prison on probationary licence, and with obtaining credit by fraud by incurring a debt of £lO 10s with James Leo Stitt and a debt of £9 10s with Eric A. G. Gray. Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., was on the Bench. Evidence was given by the probation officer, Mr. W. J. Campbell, that accused had a' bad criminal record. He was released from prison on licence last I'ebruary, but had since been in trouble and was at present serving a term of three months' imprisonment. Regarding the fraud charges, DetectiveSergeant Kelly said that after leaving prison accused went to Iloreke, North Auckland, and stayed some weeks at the hotel kept bv Mr. Stitt, thus incurring a debt of £lO 10s. He also incurred a debt for motor-car hire , with Mr. ( .ray. Jn each instance accused represented that he had £7500 in the bank as well as other assets and contemplated purchasing a timber mill in the district. " This mail lias served 29 years hi prison; he is a past-master at buying and 'selling* properties and taking people down," added Mr. Kelly. " While in gaol he is a very good worker and causes no trouble." Asked bv the magistrate if he had anything to say, .accused remarked that he was prepared to accept the facts as outlined by Mr. Kelly. They were "more or less" correct, lie said. The magistrate passed sentence of three months' imprisonment on each charge, two of the terms to be cumulative, making six months to be served by accused in addition to his present sentence.