A BOGUS CAPTAIN "BOOBED."

NZ Truth, Issue 771, 14 August 1920, Page 5

A BOGUS CAPTAIN "BOOBED."

• George William Allen, alias Captain Nella, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft at Wanganui, and to other charges of false pretences. Forty previous convictions tor theft and fraud , were legibly inscribed on accused's j criminal record. I Allen's latest lapse concerned the i taking down of William Samuel Dusj tin, manager of Dustin, Ltd., .Wanganui. Prisoner was introduced to Dustin as Sergt.-Major Allen, and prisoner informed -him that he was staying at the Rutland Hotel and offered -to. introduce Dustin to his wife. At the same time prisoner asked Dustin to pay into his account on his behalf a cheque made out by a man who signed himself McClelland, and who prisoner said was a commercial trav- | eller. representing P. Hayman and Co., Christchurch. There was no such man m Hay'man's employ, and seven days later the cheque was returned, "payment stopped." But before this | happened Dustin had been persuaded to give prisoner a cheque for £20, and m support of his bona fides prisoner pulled out a wad of notes, on top of which reposed one for £50. Allen was sentenced to six months' gaol on each charge, and was del clared an habitual criminal.