“YES, HE HAS A KINK THAT WAY.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18522, 24 July 1928, Page 1

“YES, HE HAS A KINK THAT WAY.”

ACCUSED OBTAINED POTATOES BY FRAUD. POSED AS SHOPKEEPER AND AS PIG FARMER. In the Magistrate’s Court to-day before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., Joseph Andrew Barron was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour for fraud. The charges were as follows: That on July 12, at Upper Riccarton, he attempted to obtain from Robert M’Saveney two tons of potatoes. valued at £ll b}' falsely representing: that he was a shopkeeper in Alatipo Street. Riccarton. That on June 16. at Halswell, with intent to defraud. he obtained from Herbert M’Kay eleven sacks of potatoes of a total value of £4 10s, by falsely representing that he was employed at the gas works and was on two weeks leave on full pay, and that he was residing in Barrington Street. That on July 10, at Upper Riccarton, with intent to defraud, he obtained from James Andrew- Hyndman eight sacks ot potatoes of a total value of £3 14s by falsely representing that he was the owner of a pig farm in Cutlers Road, and that he was employed at the gas works. That on June 4, at Middleton, with intent to defraud, he obtained from Joseph O’Neill one and a half tons

of potatoes of a total value of £7 10s by falsely representing that his name was “Brown,” residing at Barrington Street, and that he was employed at the gas works. That on or about May 20, with intent to defraud*, he obtained from Ar* thur W illiam Moore eighteen sacks of potatoes valued at £9 18s, by falsely representing that he was a sewage contractor and that he was engaged on a contract in Edinburgh Street. 1 Mr D. W. Russell appeared for accused, who pleaded guilty. Mr Mosley: Can that be done though ? Counsel: Well I have looked up the Act and I cannot find anything to the contrary^ Yes. But there is nothing in the Act to say he can be dealt with by this Court. However Sub-Inspector Fitzpatrick said that accused was a labourer, a married man with one child. He was not what he represented himself to be when he committed the offences. He got hold of the potatoes, and then apparently sold them, spending the proceeds. In 1926, strange to say, he was before the Court on a s.imilar offence. “He seems to bave a kink for dealing in potatoes. J* ussell ’ in asking for leniency, said that accused's previous list was a decided handicap. He had been out of work and had been drinking heavily. Between his 1921 and 1926 offences he had been married, his wife exercising a good influence. Strange to say the offences had occurred while his wife was in hospital suffering from a serious illness. Mr Mosley: Over a period of thirteen years he seems to have been addicted to offences of this kind. Counsel: Yes sir. He seems to have a kink that way. Mr Mosley: it is impossible to extend the Probation Act to a man like this who has had repeated chances. I would not be doing my duty if I so dealt with him. Accused was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labour on the first charge, three months with hard labour on each of the second and third charges, and six months with hard labour.on each of the fourth and fifth charges, the sentences to be concurrent.