ESCAPED FROM CUSTODY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21546, 18 July 1933, Page 11

ESCAPED FROM CUSTODY

MAN'S SERIES OF OFFENCES FRAUD, THEFT AND VAGRANCY [from our own correspondent] HORRINSVILLE, Monday In the Magistrate's Court at Morrinsville to-day before justices, Hector 1 James McDonald pleaded- guilty to a charge of vagrancy, two charges of theft at Kltham in March, 1933, three charges of obtaining credit by fraud at Wanganui in June, and to a charge of being an incorrigible rogue in that he escaped from the Morrinsville lockup while in lawful custody. It was stated that the accused had been travelling throughout the North Island, inserting advertisements in the newspapers for a housekeeper, and posing as a wealthy sheepfarmer. From the replies he received, ho would net in touch with women seeking the position and, in many cases, obtained money from them. The three victims of the charges of obtaining credit by fraud at Wanganui were all women whom he had met by means of advertisements. ..

Accused was sentenced to two months' imprisonment on the charge of vagrancy, to one month on each of the two theft charges, and to two months' imprisonment on each of the three charges of fraud, the sentences to be cumulative. On the charge of escaping from custody accused was sentenced to 12 months' reformative treatment to be served at the expiration of the 10 months' imprisonment.