HEARTLESS FRAUDS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14833, 26 November 1913, Page 4

HEARTLESS FRAUDS.

ALLEGED EMPLOYMENT IN NEW ZEALAND.

WELL-DESERVED SENTENCE

(from our own correspondent.) LONDON, October 17. At the Mansion House, before Alder* man Sir Edward Cooper, Douglas McDonald, aged 29, a clerk, of 41, Cheapside, was charged on remand with obtaining money by false pretences. Defendant pleaded guilty. •. " Tho Assistant City Solicitor (Mr Vickery), who prosecuted, said that tho defendant was arrested on October 6tli on a charge of attempting td obtain £11 10s. It was not proposed to proceed with that chargo, however, bub to charge the defendant with obtaining from three young men the sums of £34 10a, and two of £11 10s each. Defendant lived at Rickmansworth, whore he was known by the name of Harris. In August last he took an office at 41 Cheapside, and called himself a foreign and colonial importer. Shortly afterwards he inserted an advertisement similar to tho following in London and provincial papers:— "Ironmongers' assistants (two) required for largo store in New Zealand. Possess good general experience, and knowledge. of agricultural appliances Able to pass examination as to freedom from organic diseases. Under 35 years of age. Agreement " three years. Salary, £300 per annum. Half passage "paid arid half salary during. voyage.—Address, stating experience and reference" • , The Alderman: A.good chance? Mr Vick»ry: Yes, on paper. The applicants received answers from Douglas Macdbnald, 41 Cheapside, stating that he was instructed to engage thoroughly competent men, and ho gave the .name of a well-known company at Wellington, Xew Zealand, as his principals. Correspondence ensued, and the accused went through the fare© of writing to tho references, which were unexceptionable in all cases. In the meantime, the accused, in tho name of "C. A. Imric," ia order to successfully carry .out the fraud, opened an office at 453 West Strand as a shipping agent. Applicants were engaged at a salary of £300 per annum, and were required to pay half the passage money. They were tola they would sail on tho 23rd inst.. and were also told to engage their berths on the ship at Imrie'3 officoi There they were given credit notes for the half of the passage money (£23) which they had paid. They were also told they would be handed a letter of introduction . to tho firm at Wellington at the docks. Evidence was given by Mr H. E. Young, of Sheffield. Mr W. F. Halo, of Plymouth, and Mr I. J. Luke, of Sidmouth. Mr Young said he paid tho £11 10s for himself and £23 for the young lady he was engaged to marry. They were* going to marry beforo sailing, and-both had given up their situations in Sheffield in view of his having been engaged liy tho prisoner. The Alderman: I hope you will both bo taken back by your employers. Detective-Inspector Phillips said that beforo the prisoner's arrest the prisoner obtained £125 from other people, and since tho police had been in possession of his office £162 had been received from fifteen people. The prisoner had a credit balance of £30 at his bank, and in his possession the witness found £34 3s stl. ■ . Mr Vickery applied that tne police might retain possession of the- money for the benefit of the persons defrauded. The £162 which had come to I hand since the prisoner's arrest would, of course, bo returned. ' Tho Alderman granted the application. , , ~ ~,. Prisoner, who pleaded pcmlty, said his ; real name was Douglas Macdonald. Ho \ knew he had don© a grave wrong in I these cases, but he had been, defrauded himself by bookmakers. : Inspector Phillips said there had been ' fifty other complaints from persons who ; had undertaken to forward money on j the prisoner's promisee. I The Alderman: It is the most cruel J and heartless fraud I have ever heard j ofj and you are sentenced to six j months' hard labour on two of the cases, twelve months' hard labour in all.

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