FALSE PRETENCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24632, 13 June 1941, Page 7

FALSE PRETENCES

TWO MEN BEFORE COURT MAGISTRATE’S SUGGESTION (P.A.) AUCKLAND, June 12. “It is a pity we cannot put all these habitual criminals on an island and let them work their false pretences on one another" suggested the magistrate, Mr F. K. Hunt, in the Police Court to-day, after dealing with the second of two criminals whom he sent back to prison. •, The first man dealt with was Thomas Frederick Ellis, aged 64, a labourer, who admitted stealing one sum of £2 and another of £3 at National Park and Taihape, and also at Taihape incurring a credit of £lO by fraud. The police said that Ellis was an habitual , criminal who was released from, prison ' in: 1937, and returned to prison within five months, but ih December last he was re’eased on licence again. On' one charge Mr Hunt sentenced Ellis to six months’ imprisonment additional to the term he is already serving, followed by reformative detention for 12 months.

John Edward Weldon, aged 72, an engineer and labourer, pleaded guilty to incurring a debt of £l4 10s, and also tp obtaining flowers valued at £3 by means of a valueless cheque. The police said that by telling a good story Weldon got a taxi man to drive him about the country “inspecting property with a view to purchase." Weldon was an habitual criminal, who had spent about one-third of his life in prison. • Defending counsel said that Weldon had money due to him with which restitution could be made.

The magistrate sentenced the accused to six months’ imprisonment.