RICH UNCLE ROMANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1917, Page 8

RICH UNCLE ROMANCE.

EXTRAORDINARY FRAUDS BY A GIRTi, Auckland. Nov. 20. f'hri-tinn K. McDonnld, twenty years of a;.*e. who pleaded siiiltv to five charges of obtaining by false pretences during August, and September sums totalling £75 from Kenneth A. McLeod, came up : for :>f (lie n olire Court (o-f'iv. . Qhief-Detectivc MeMnhon said the young woman had faced two trials at the Supreme Court in respect of the previous charge, but that, fact had not deterred her fropi indulging in further frauds. As far Wk as 1013 she had vvitten letters for the purpose of misleading her relations, particularly her father* The letters purported to' have come from New York, and referred to a' supposed rich uncle. The woman had displayed a considerable'' amount of cunning to allow time for this information about Iter "American uncle" to become known, first to her immediate relations and later to relatives whom she intended to deceive. She told a relative of hers by marriage that this rich uncle had arrived from America. She said he intended to give her mother some property, and he wanted a loan of £ls, as be had 110 immediate means, the Government having held back his money. The £ls was obtained. Later the young woman said her "uncle" owned National Bank property in Queen street, and that 1. well-known Auckland solicitor was his lawyer. These deceptions were carried on until she had obtained a total of £75. Mr. McLeod was rung up on several occasions by someone, who said he was the; rich uncle. The girl now said that she had done so, but the voice had been that, of a mans. The police concluded it was somebody else, but the jjirl refused to sav who it was. Not one penny of thft £73 had been recovered. She liad played a very cunning game, and was a danger to tiie community. The magistrate said the ease was one of the most extraordinary he had ever come arcoss. For a ybung girl, the nrisorier liad shown exceedingly criminal ■mining. Her letters read like an American novel about a high-class "crook." Reformative treatment for not more tlum three years wa6 ordered.