THIEF FAILED TO PAY THE RENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19158, 26 August 1930, Page 7

THIEF FAILED TO PAY THE RENT.

CONVERTED LANDLADY’S MONEY TO HIS OWN USE

George Warren betrayed the trust of liis landlady, and converted the money she gave him to pay her rent to his own purposes.

In the Magistrate’s Court this morning, Warren showed great keenness in cross-examining the witnesses, but was

silent when told.by Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., that a prims facie case had been made out against him, and that unless he could give evidence to clear himself he would be convicted.

The charge was that Warren, who is aged fifty, and described as an agent, on August 13 stole £.4 in money, the property of Annie Celina Kortegast. “The complainant keeps a small boarding-house,” said Chief-Detective Carroll, “and makes a solicitor fortnightly payments of £4 for rent. The accused was a boarder, and complainant'gave him £4 to pay to the solicitor. Instead of doing so, he converted the money to his own use. He left the day after and the complainant then found that the money had not been paid to the solicitor. She found the accused, who told her that he would pay the money over on the following day. He also rang the solicitor and told, him he had the money. How-

ever, he did not go near the solicitor’s office. The complainant told the police, and they saw the accused, who denied the charge, but said that the complainant had given him the £4 as repayment of a loan. That story is not true, according to Mrs Kortegast.” “ Failed To Do So.” Annie Celina Kortegast, boardinghouse proprietor, said that the accused boarded in her house for some months. On three occasions she gave him money to pay into her solicitor’s but on the third occasion he failed to do so. Witness and her husband went to see accused on the matter. He promised to pay the money back the next day. She had never received any money from Warren as a loan. Cross-examined bv accused: He left her place because he had a difference with another boarder and her husband —chiefly with her husband. There could be no possibility of a misunderstanding over what the money was for, whether it was a loan or whether he knew it was to be paid to her solicitors. Carl Kortegast. husband of the previous witness gave corroborative evidence. The accused said he did not wish to give evidence on his own behalf. “ There is a prima facie case against you,” said the Magistrate, “ and if you

behalf you will have to be convicted.” The accused again stated that he had nothing to say. Warren was convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour.