DESPICABLE THEFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21727, 16 February 1934, Page 8

DESPICABLE THEFT

GIRL'S SAVINGS TAKEN MAN SENT TO PRISON "Erery circumstance in this cast is an aggravation of the offence," stated Judge Foster, in a Melbourne Court recently. "One can scarcely imagine a crime more despicable than that which Perrin has committed. He has robbed a young woman of every penny of her savings, and that under promise of marriage." Thomas Charles Perrin, aged 26, mechanic, was charged with stealing by a trick £73 from Kathleen Collings, a housemaid. The Crown Prosecutor said that Miss Collings had saved £BS. She met. Perrin, and they arranged to be married, although, unknown to Miss Collings. Perrin was already married. Perrin told her that they would spend the' honeymoon in Denmark, where his father' was a Judge, and he took her to be photographed passport. Perrin borrowed £l2 from the girl in small sums, and later persuaded her tc draw the remainder of her savings from the bank to give to him for safe keeping. She gave him £73. and then he disappeared. When he was arrested, he told the police that he had spent the money on drink.

Accused admitted that he received the money, but said he did riot promise to marry Miss Collings. He had been drinking throughout the day on which he received the money, and had gone to the home of a friend, and had given the friend the money to take care of.

The jury found Perrin guilty of larceny by trick, and he was sentenced to imprisonment for three years.