BOUGHT HOUSE BUT DID NOT HAVE CASH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18469, 22 May 1928, Page 4

BOUGHT HOUSE BUT DID NOT HAVE CASH.

WANGANUI TRADERSLOSE IN DEALS WITH EX-“WESTER COASTER.”

(Special to-the “Star. ") WANGANUI, May 22. The story how John Edward Weldon, alias 11. A. Durant, a middle-aged man, traded on the credibility of unsuspecting businessmen of Wanganui was related in the Magistrate’s Court today.

Weldon first engaged a taxi-proprie-tor named Richard Kendrick, of New Plymouth, to drive him to Wanganui On the way down he called at several dairy factories, leading the taxi proprietor to believe that he was an inspector of machinery. At Wanganui he got the taxi to drive him on to Marton, where he stayed the night, returning to Wanganui next morning. He asked the taxi-driver to meet him in the afternoon, but did not keep the appointment to pay the account of £ls. On May 7, Weldon interviewed Thomas Gillman, a land agent, and signed up for the purchase of a seven roomed house at St. John’s Hill, intimating that he would pay cash, and was a West Coaster with a banking account at V 7 estport. Weldon then interviewed Leonard C. Trevers, of Pursers, Ltd., who took him to a house, and after a minute inspection and most careful negotiations, Weldon arranged to purchase £437 worth of furniture. He arranged, by an introduction from Pursers, Ltd., with Gilbertson, a carpenter, to make about £l6O worth of alterations to a house, and for Tingevs, Ltd., to thoroughly renovate the interior. The workmen of both the latter firms started work. He also went joy-riding in the taxi of Harry Dinstall, running up an ac count of £2 15s. He borrowed £5 from one of the business firms with whom he had been negotiating. With this he shouted for sundry heads of firms, who thought they had an excellent client. Weldon told them that the alterations were being specially made for his daughter, who was on the West Coast, and he wanted her to have the best, as she deserved it. lie also promised a house-warming in typical West Coast style. When the home was ready for occupation, a disconcerting reply to a telegram tq the Bank of New South Wales at Westport, showing that he had no funds, caused the bird to fly from the river city, and he was subsequently arrested at Wellington. To-day, Weldon pleaded gtiilty to three charges of attempting to obtain credit by fraud, and was committed ..or sentence to the Supreme Court