A "RICH UNCLE."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12176, 27 November 1917, Page 2

A "RICH UNCLE."

YOUNG WOMAN'S SERIES OF FRAUDS. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, November 26. Christina K. M'Donald, twenty years of age, who pleaded guilty to five charges of obtaining by false pretences during August and September sums totalling £75 from Kenneth A. M'Leod. came up for sentence at the Police Court at Auckland to-day. ChiefDetective M'Mahon said the young woman bad faced two trials at tho Supreme. Court in respect of a previous charge, but that fact had not deterred her from indulging in further frauds. As far back as 1915 she had written letters for the purpose of misleading her relations, particularly her father. The letters purported to have come front New York and referred to a supposed rich uncle, and tho young woman had displayed a considerable amount of cunning to allow time for this information about tho "American uncle" to become known first to her immediate relatives 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 he had no immediate means, the Government having held back his money. The- £ls was obtained. Later the young woman said her "Uncle" owned tho National Bank property 'n Queen Street, and that a well-known Auckland solicitor was hiH lawyer. These deceptions were carried on untii she had obtained a total of £75. Mr M'Leod 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 man. The police considered it was somebody else, but the girl refused to say who it was. Not one pennv of the £75 had been recovered. She nad played a very cunning game and was a danger to the community. The Magistrate said the case was one of the most extraordinary he had ever come across. For a young girl the prisoner had shown exceeding criminal cunning. Her letters read like an American novel about a high-class "crook." Reformative treatment for not more than three years was ordered.