IMPUDENT FRAUDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3828, 26 July 1927, Page 54

IMPUDENT FRAUDS.

BOYS' INGENIOUS SYS’i CHRISTCHURCH, July 22. Impudent frauds perpetrated on city firms were revealed in the Magistrate’s Com t to-day, when a boy pleaded g uilty to 10 charges of obtaining goods by false pretences, one of attempting to obtain goods by false pretences, and one of theft. Chief Detective Lewis told the magis, Irate (Mr E. D. Mosley) that the boy was 17 years of age. In company with another lad he had telephoned certain firms, purporting to do so on behalf of business people, and stating that he would send a messenger for the cigarettes, which were the subject of the charges. In all, the charges involved a sum of £l4 9s 3d. Of this amount, goods valued at £l4 8s 9d had been recovered. With regard to the charge of attempting to defraud, the firm upon whom the accused had called to take delivery of the goods ordered was not satisfied with his bona tides, and telephoned to the people for whom the boy said he was working. • He then ran off. When tlie boys cleared, out of the city, said the chief detective, they stole two bicycles. This boy’s parents resided in Christchnrrc.h. He had not previouslv been convicted, but he had run away from home on occasions. He had passed only the third standard, and after leaving school he ran away to the North Island. During the Dunedin Exhibition period ha again ran away. There was a. suggestion that tho boy had injuries which might have affected him mentally. He was older than the other boy. Air Malley asked for probation on account of the accused's youth. lie stated that when the boy was three years and a-half of age. he had been run over by a cab at Greymouth, and received injuries to his head, the effects of which were still evident. The accused had already spent a week in Panama prison, and this would no doubt be a lesson to him. Counsel asked for the suppression nf the boy's name. The father of the accused said that up till the time of the recent offences his son had conducted himself well. ‘‘He has been a very good boy at home.” witness said. “He has rim away, but the reason for my reporting the fact to the police was that I thought it was my duty, because of his youth.” “This is a case either for probation or the Borstal Institute,” said the magistrate, who remanded the case until 'Tuesday next to enable the probation officer to make a report. “I shall suppress the name in the meantime, but I do not promise to do so when he appears again, even if probation is granted.’’ Bail was allowed in self £5O and one surety of £5O.