THEFT AND FRAUD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22963, 15 February 1938, Page 16

THEFT AND FRAUD

LABOURER ON LICENCE RETURN TO BORSTAL TWO YEARS' DETENTION "He is an irresponsible kind of a lad," said the assistant probation officer, Mr. C. E. Maxted, when Douglas Alexander Kerr, labourer, aged 20, appeared in the Police Court, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., yesterday, on four charges. Accused was charged with stealing £lO from John Donald McKenzic, at Tauranga, on February 2; obtaining £2 from the same person by falso pretences on February 1; stealing a gold ring and 10s, of a total value of £5 10s, from Hannah Kizia Riley, at Auckland, on January 25; and obtaining 10s from Catherine Boag, pn January 26. by falso pretences. Detective-Sergeant McHugh said that accused had been staying with people at Green's Bay, but left on January 25, taking tho ring and money belonging to Mrs. Riley. Ho had heard Mrs. Hile.v speak of a Mrs. Boag, and he wrote a letter, purporting to be from Mrs. Riley, asking Mrs. Boag for 10s. Accused got the money and kept it. Going on to Tauranga, Mr. McHugh continued, accused obtained £2 from Mr. McKenzie, saying that he needed the money to go to Wellington, as his brother had died. His brother, however, was not dead, and was still very much alive. When, he was given the £2 he saw where the money was kept, and returned the next day to take two £5 notes. Later accused went on to Palmerston North, where ho was arrested with only 10s in his possession. Accused came from respectable people in Wellington, but had been in the Borstal Institute, and was released on probation in November, 1936, said the detective-sergeant. His licence had not yet expired, but since lie was released he had been sentenced to a month's imprisonment on each of two charges at New Plymouth. There was £l3 4s restitution owing. A term of two years' detention in the Borstal Institute was imposed on the charge of stealing £lO.. On the others accused was convicted and discharged.