FALSE PRETENCES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9916, 3 August 1910, Page 3

FALSE PRETENCES.

A YOUNG WOMAN'S MISTAKE. This morning, at the Magistrate's Court, Minnie bollock, a young married woman, aged twenty-two years 'was charged with having obtained household goods, to the value of £2O, from Strange and Co. by falsely representing that she was the daughter of John Stringiellow, and with" having obtained clothing, valued at £2O, from the D.I.C. by falsely representing that ehe was Mrs J. MXeau, of Rakaia. Mr.H. W. Bishop, S.M., heard the case, Chief-Detective Bishop conducted the prosecution, and Mr A. W. Bishop appeared for the accused. The accused pleaded guilty. A[r A. W. Bishop said that the accused had taken the goods without any criminal intent, and intended all along to pay for them. As a matter of fact, the goods had been paid for at full value. He pleaded Jor leniency. In answer to Mr H. W. Bishop ChiefDetective Bishop eaid that the accused had married a lay reader secretly. Before she had met the man she married her character had been all that could be desired. The two firms did not wish to press the charge. The Magistrate said that ho would like to h«ve the husband before him, in order to talk to him. His behaviour had certainly unfitted him for his profession. 'He would treat her as a first offender, but it was n pitiful case. The accused said that her husband had told her to purchase goods for a home, and stated that he would send her money. The idea of giving a false name was her own.

The accused elected to return to her father, despite the statement that her husband wanted her to accompany him.

The Magistrate said that her parents were quite right. The accused was fined £5 and costs on one charge, in default'one'month's imprisonment, and convicted and discharged on the other.