THIRTY YEARS IN PRISON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19252, 16 August 1924, Page 10

THIRTY YEARS IN PRISON.

Although he disliked the idea of sending such au old man to prison, the Worcester Recorder recently remarked that he had no alternative but to pass sentence of four years’ penal servitude upon Austin Sinclair, aged 77, a bookmaker. Sinclair pleaded guilty to obtaining £5 by false pretences and stealing a coat. It was, explained that a Mrs Cartwright, of Worcester, advertised for news of a missing brother. Sinclair called on her, and represented that he had itust returned from New Zealand, where her brother had died recently, leaving her a considerable sum of money, but required £3 to enable him to obtain from the bank a portion of it. Mrs Cartwright handed him £3. Prisoner, it was stated, also obtained from a young man. Albert Hall, a sum of £2. lie pretended that he had been a sheep farmer in New Zealand, aud had booked a cabin ip order fo return to the dominion. The cabin could be transferred to Hall, who could obtain a cheap passage out. Prisoner asked Hall for £2, and secured the money. Mr Simes, who prosecuted, mentioned that Sinclair was wanted by 19 police forces for 21 offences. He was stated to have spent 30 years in prison. He generally imposed on poor people. When arrested a number of puttings relating to missing relatives were found upon him. The Recorder remarked that there was no guarantee that if he gave prisoner a short sentence he would not, after he came out. curry out a scrips of frauds.