LURE OF FINE CLOTHES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16590, 13 January 1916, Page 3

LURE OF FINE CLOTHES

ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO TRIOR TRADESMEN. BOGUS MILITARY OFFICER. Some timo a:bout December 28 a young man named Claud Osmond Barker, alias Jiuniceon, alias Aldon, arrived in Dunedin, presumably from Invercargill, where a few days previously ho had been disciharged.after having servod two sentences of imprisonment. Ho went to stay with some people in Cumberland street. He remained here for a little time, but eventually went out in quest of fame and fino clothes. Ho went to tho Grand Hotol, and there booked accommodation, saying that he would not be in to dinner. Later ho set about replenishing his wardrobe, and among other shops visited by him was the Now Zealand Clothing Factory. Hero he inspected and selected a "sports suit," a ru;j, an overcoat, and sundry other articles of wearing apparel. With all tho swagger necessary to lit tho new role in which he found himself, ho ordered that tho "oods selected by him should bo delivered to " my hotel, 1 ' tho Grand, where ho would settle on delivery. Realising that boots wero needed to mako his equipment complete, he then betook himself to Mr M. Bradley's boot and shoe shop in Maelaggan street, where, under tho pretext of having a pair of " military " boots renaired, ho succeeded in obtaining credit for a pair of patent-toed boots and a pair of shoes. He informed tho proprietor of tho shop that ho was a military officer, and was spending a holiday in Dunedin, and was staving' at the Criterion Hotel. Tho now boots he took away, but the shoes wero loft to be rubber-hoelod, and the military boots to bo repaired where the leggings had worn tho leather, somewhat. When all things had thus been nicely arranged, he returned to his hotel, and upon the arrival of his clothing he promptly handed tho messenger a scaled envelopo, which he told him to give to his employer, obtaining in return a rccoipt for what was supposed to bo a chequo in payment for the goods. However, tho envelopo merely contained a letter explaining that in order to avoid causing tho firm any trouble in referring his chequo to Christchurch he had decided to cash it at the hotel office, and to ooino round and pav for the goods in cash. Suspicious thai; all was not fair and above-board, tho manager of the firm immediately invoked the aid of the local detective department to put matters right. Detective Hall was sent out in search of Barker, and found him in Mr Bradley's shop,, to which ho had gone to collect his " military boots," and incidentally lift the rubber-heeled shoes, lie was taken for a walk to the Policc Station, and placed under arrest on charges of theft. After several remands necessary for the polico to complete thoir investigations, he was brought before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., at tho City Police Court yesterday, when he was. charged (1) That on December 30, 1915, ho did steal on© overooat, ono rug, on© suit of clothes, and sundry articles of wearing apparel, of the total valuo of £12 12s 3d, the property of tho Now Zealand Clothing Factory; (2) that on December 28, 1915, with intent to defraud, he did obtain from Matthew Bradley a pair of boots, valued at £1 7s, by representing that' he was a military man spending a holiday at the Criterion Hotel, Dunedin. Detective Sergeant Kemp prosccuted, and tho r.couscd was not represented by counsel. Ernest John Darracott stated that ho was in charge of the mercery department of tho New Zealand Clothing Factory on December 30. The accused camo in and asked to be fitted with a sports suit. Witness took him to the clothing counter and handed him over to the salesman. The accused purchased several articles of clothing, and said that when tho goods were sent to the Grand Hotel he would pay on delivery; if he was out he would send the amount round. Witness told him that he had 'better take the bills with him in case ho was out when the goods were handed over, and ho could leave the amount at the office. Witness asked the accused for his private address, and he said it was Ilam street, Riccarion. Ernest Johnstone, a salesman at the New Zealand Clothing Factory, stated that, about 10.30 a.m. on December 30, he supplied tho accused with a sports suit, valued at £2 7s 6d, and an overcoat for £3 9s 6d. Ernest Victor Slyfield, manager in Duntdin for the New Zealand Clothing Factory, stated that, about 11 a.m. on the 30th of last month, be saw a parcel at the shop waiting: delivery. It was addressed, ' Mr Alden, Grand Hotel. A.bout 2.30 in tho afternoon he received a telephone message from a person who said, "Mr Alden speaking; I am now in, and if you send along the goods I will settle on delivery." Witness sent along a messenger, with instructions to collect the amount due on the goods. About 20 minutes later the messenger returned with a letter, which stated: "With regard to the goods received, I have decided, m order to avoid delay in referring my cheque to Christchurch, to cash it at the hotel office, and when I have done so I will call and pay for tho goods. Upon receipt of this, witness told the messenger that this was not the arrangement, and immediately sent him to keep an eye on the purchaser and the parcel. vVitness, in addition, endeavoured to ring up the Grand Hotel, but was unable to do so. Victor Thomas Wilson .gave evidence as to delivering a parcel of goods to the accused at the Grand Hotel. The accused told him to take the parcel up to his room, and when they reached it the accused handed him an envelope. Witness asked if it contained a cheque, and accused replied that it did, and told hiin to hand it to the manager. Witness gave accused a receipt and went back to the office. He was subsequently sent back to see the accused, but he was gone. In reply to the accused, witness said that he (accused) had not asked for the roceipt. Lily Spoddmg, who lived with her husband in Cumberland street, stated that the accused cam© to her house on December 24 and stayed there until the evening of the 29th. Ho_ left about 9.55 p.m. on the Wednesday night. He said he was going to stop with his sister at Roslyn. He did not take his luggage. He returned next day. The aooused had 6tayed with her off and on when he was in Dunedin. Jessie Helena Ainge, clerk at the Grand Hotel, stated that, between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the 29th of last month, accused came to the office at the Grand Hotel. He asked for a room on the first floor. Witness told him they hadn't ono, and gave him one on the second floor He said he would not bo in to dinner, but would bo back later on in tho evening, and then went out. Tho accused slept at the hotel that night, and was thera for lunch tho following day, and remained until about 3 p.m. About this timo witness saw tho accused on the stairs, talking to the messenger from'tho New Zealand Clothing Factory. Some time afterwards the messenger came baok to see him, but he could not be found. Tho accused had no luggage _ when he came to engage his room. Pie said nothing about luggage. Detective Hall gave evidence as to receiving a complaint from Mr Slyfield on December 30. About 11.30 on December 31 ho arrested the accused on warrant. The accused's correct name was Claud Osman Barker, and ho sonip+iracs went, under tho name of Jamioson. When arrested he had in his possession tho receipt produced, but when asked where tho goods wore ha at first refused to tell. Subsequently he gave witness an order to get the goods from a Mrs L. Spedding, who resided in Cumberland street. All the goods were in tho parcel in court, with the exception of two articles which the accused was wearing. Tho accused said that he had nothing to say, and pleaded not guilty. Ho was committed for trial at tho next sitting of tho Supremo Court. The second charge was then proceeded with. Matthew Bradley, bootmaker, Dunedin, statod that the accused wont to his shop at 2.30 p.m. on the 28th of last month. Ho asked witness if he repaired boots, and he replied in the affirmative. The accused left a pair to be mended, and witness also supplied a pair of boots and a pair of shoes. 'lhe accused said that ho woull! take tho. boots with him, but would leavo the shoes to have rubber heels put on. He told witness that he was a military officer, and that he did not belong to Dunedin, but had been staying a good time at the Criterion Hotel. What induced witness to give the accused the boots was tho fact that, ho said he was a military officer staying at tho Criterion Hotel on holiday. Witness had not seen the accused proviously. Victor Thomas Wilson stated that he saw the accused at tho Grand Hotel on December 50, when hp.asked him to do him a favour by taking a letter round to Mr Mat Bradley's and bring 'baek a pnrcel. Witn-ss did so, but Mr Bradley told him that the boots were not finished. However, if he Hod round in the evening ho would have the rubbers put on. Alexander Martin, book-keeper at the Criterion Hotel, stated that ho saw the accused at 4.15 p.m. on December 27. He asked if thorj were any letters or telegrams thero for him. He gave tho name of Alden or Holden, he was not sure. About 5 p.m. witness again saw the accused at the Criterion. Ho asked if there had been any parcels left there for him. Witness told him thero had not, but that a few tradespeople had boon ringing up asking if lie wero staying there. Tho accused asked the names of the tradespeople, but witness told him that as ho knew with whom he had done business, he could rins:

tliern up. Tho accused replied that that being tho case ho had better leavo tho Grand Hotel and come and stay at tho Criterion Hotel. Ho wtw refused accommodation at the Criterion Hotel, and witness was in u. position to say lie h-ad not stayed there. Dctcct.ive Hail gave evidence as to arresting tho accused on December 31, when he was wearing tho boots produced. When chargtd he made no reply. Witness had known tho accused for the past 18 months. He was not a military officer, and on tho 24th of Inst month ho was discharged from tho Inveirargill Gaol, vhcro ho had served two sentences. The accused reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supromo Court far trial.