BENNETT'S BLANDISHMENTS.

NZ Truth, Issue 834, 12 November 1921, Page 5

BENNETT'S BLANDISHMENTS.

END OF A -GREAT CAREER

Company Promoter's Bubble Burst

(Prom "Truth's" Christchurch RepO An elderly financier answering- to the name of Frederick James Blandford Bennett • was introduced to Judge Adams, for the, purpose of receiving a punishment to fit his crime. This was getting- other people's money on false pretences — to which offence he had owned up with great contrition. His lawyer had nothingmore to say on his behalf. The judge then spoke a piece of his mind, which was not all. all to the bogus financier's advantage. He gave him discredit for being- an expert m his own line, adducing: as proof of that fact that the, bland- Bennett had gone to . the trouble to have bogus shares certificates made to deceive his trusting clients. These were calculated to deceive almost anyone. The prisoner was most resourceful m his methods of business and took every precaution to ensure reasonable chances of success. Bennett's record was read out as follows : Exeter, England, f.ii false pretences, twelve months • Perth (W.A-), the .same trouble, six; mor.tiis; {Sydney, embezzlement- oight-iesi months; Auckland, Seotembei-, TSnr>, false declaration, six luonthu; Napier lfllC, theft, tw-wlvo .minilis- Wellington. 1918, theft, two years. Bennett, admitted the truth of the black lisl) and was given two years for not' •speaking- the truth, and was declared an habitual criminal. Bennett had great potentialities m him had he kept within the law. Instead of which he will now be kept within bounds' hv the law and hla state will not be the more gracious.