THE OLD, OLD STORY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume III, Issue 198, 10 November 1934, Page 3

THE OLD, OLD STORY

Confidence Trick

TWO MEN LOSE THEIR MONEY

Scrub Cutting on Farm

An old 'story was told in the Police . Court in Christchurch when . Hugh Anthony Parker, alias Tregcnza, described as a showman, 23 years of age, was sentenced to ,*?x , months' imprisonment by Mr H. A. Young S.M. for the theft of £3 10s, the property of Douglas Sprengler (states the Star)- Mr Russell, appeared for the accused, who pleaded guiity. • Chief Detective Dunlop said that the accused mejg l and a companion and, representing that his father was a farmer at Gore, asked them if they would like work scrub cutting. The two men accepted, and got their tickets at the railway sta tion. The party returned to. Cathedral Square, and the accused,' saying that he had some to attend to, asked whether either of the two men could change a ttwenty.', Springier said .that he had only £3*Los. ''That' will do," said accused and, taking Sprengler's /money, he went into a building. The two. would be scrub cutters did not see him again till he was arrested. "He has a fairly heavy record," ., said the chief detective. Mr Russell said ttiat drink Was .the cause of this lapse. \ .. .: \ From the dock, accused said that he was prepared to leave ; town. . "It would be a good thing if he ; Was out of-town," said the' chief detective. "He was iii' town thi a time last year, and some people wished ,[ he had not been." . The Magistrate: He has visited, every town. in> New Zealand. Even quiet little Nelson has no. t been immune.

The chief detective said that accused had; £3 9s in his .possession when arrested, and asked whether that amount should be treated as restitution for complainant. The.aeCu'sed said it was not the money be had obtained from complainant. "I. cannot order that money to be refunded," said the magistrate. "Complainant will have' to siy? him." The magistrate said that accused had 12 previous convictions, most of them for theft. He wanted to get out of town, and he would. The sentence would be six months' imprison ment with hard labour.