PSEUDO CLERGYMAN.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17117, 12 April 1921, Page 5

PSEUDO CLERGYMAN.

A YOUNG MAN'S ESCAPADE. (nress association telegram.) AUCKLAND, April 11. A young man named Claude Osmonde Barker (25), who had beep.masquerading as a clergyman in Auckland among "Wsiness people jnst before the Easter holidays, came before Mr Poynton, S.M., to-day on three charges of having obtained about £ls worth of goods on valueless cheques, and three others of having attempted to obtain a Hudson motor-car and about £3OO worth of drapery and furnishings by false pretences. He was also charged wjth being inronlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, According to the evidence given, the accused, immaculate in the cloth of« a clergyman, put up at the Hotel - on the Thursday before Good Friday, "gnd during the day called at several tatiness places. He invariably produced •v visiting card printed "Rev. W. *. ' > Don, M.A.," and intimated that he was jost from Christchurch, and had had ' t\ B arrangements spoiled by the banks \ BeiOg closed for the holidays. On the 1 strength of his appearance, manner, ..etttements, and cheques, he obtained 1 cigars, a safety razor, and a cigarette ItSn at Coleman's, a camera at Suck- ' JuVs. and clothing at Fowlds's, in each 'case getting Borne change in cash, which >$ he" said he required for tips at the t * hotel. It was noticeable that each of * .the three cheques issued was signed ' J'lf. W. Don " not "W. F. Don," and 1 Ithat the printed numbers were cut from ' < ? the cheques. The latter, he explained, /was a Christchurch business custom. * vfle visited the firm of Gillett Motors, } *ltd., and entered into negotiations for \ the purchase of a £925 Hudson motorIfcar. He had a trial spin, and, being * unable to get immediate possession of v Hhe car on the cheque he proposed to Ojave he made arrangements to have ! the use of it until after, the holidays, , when he said he could fully satisfy thevendor of his financial standing. He ''•called at John Court's and told his iJosual story of being a clergyman from JChristchurch, transferred to WelhngjJtan, and on holiday to get married (More taking over his new charge. He %d a list of goods running from fur carpets, silks, and satins, down < >W gloves, and gave an order running /awTabout £l5O in value. He proposed toTcall in his car later and get the ijodfe, but the firm's credit manager on the telephone, just before itoußC closing time, and insisted on some , iafbfefactory reference of his ability to w''jwfc On an offer to telegraph to:a. bank for. a reference being "■"Jipsased over, the business manager •" c fflstßted that the- goods could not *, JIM handed over. Meantime , the had been to Andrews and ECSarke. and had selected (according to WHst he had) household furnishings to; value of £l5O. The clergyman's viability to back up with references "'the■ financial he } proposed^ i, undertaking came to the ears of Detee-tive-Sergeants Ward and Hammond, who visited him at his hotel. Under , persratent enquiry the accused failed - yf sustain his ministerial character, *"an,d, eventually owned up, when arrestinescapable. "My name is Barker,'' - he confessed. "I have a business in r Christchurch, with a partner, as motor 'engineers, and we hfve a partnerahip ,J/acoount<in the Bank of New Zealand.' Yl .think it is in credit about £l5O. If fVligfct a chance I will pay back the .Mnioney I received here. I wanted to get married, and I thought I would »£fget3goods in this way. I thought this *'stunt out, and thought I could pull it t~:it&_ I thought a parson's clothes would Im'." • itectives then found that acLarrived in Auckland On Wed-, (March. 22nd),' in ordinary i'nd had engaged a sample tmg that he was a commercial ,WJ}ensthey visited the they.fcfound- ft.'large," empty* ise,< three large empty trunks, 1 t case, containing a change of ind revolver* 'ln one cuiksTvas also a sheet of paper • i following plan of campaign' ah it in the, accused's hand"Boxes, sample crates, etc., "*> P u ty * a handsa* soon aa the soldi" ,Get >to Auckland in time ,*to look rooms or cellar for -stor- j 'Arrive in ordinary clothes, en•3gatfe»i!ceUar J round town,, pick "MrtKttotfr: mark, then change and engage tffflSfiijmv samole room or house. Stay told IJetective-Sergeant Aising-the, for transporting the good 3 v™STith,e?Tsample room,* and then somel||a>aad6tied,tb.e cat. Mr Dickson ap-

peared. stated that he would former plead not guilty, at the Supreme Court he-would plead gmtty. He was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.