MAORI’S FALSE PRETENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1932, Page 9

MAORI’S FALSE PRETENCE

HIS FONDNESS FOR RACING ■DEATH SOFTENS PEOPLE’S HEARTS’ “MONEY TO TAKE BODIES HOME.” By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, August 11. A well-educated Maori, Te Oho Te Hae, aged 50, was convicted to-day on three charges of false pretences. He obtained £lO from an Anglican clergyman by saying that his son was dead, and that ho wanted money to take the body home; £2O from another man by saying that his daughter was dead, and that he wanted to take her body home, and £lB from a Hamilton solicitor by representing himself as a relative of a well-known Kawhia family. “It seems an easy way. of. getting money,” remarked the magistrate. “Yes,” said the prosecutor. ‘Death softens the hearts of these people.” The probation officer and two detectives spoke in favour of accused, one saying that racing was responsible for his downfall. The magistrate said that the offences were mean ones. He admitted accused to probation, ordered restitution of £4B, and said: ‘lf you arft found on a racecourse again you will bo brought here and dealt with.”