AMAZING CREDULITY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 119, 13 February 1919, Page 4

AMAZING CREDULITY

CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY. By Telecraph:—Press Association, Christchurch, February 12. An' amazing story of credulity was told at the Supremo Court, before Mr. Justice Herdnian to-day. Arthur Patrick M'Guire was charged i with conspiring by deceit and by means of false representation to obtain money from William John Cupples by falsely representing that Cecil, M'Cullougli was a detective named LeWis and that Frederick John Wormald .was a detective named Jamieson, and by obtaining X 194 by theso means from Cupples by representing: that they were securing the release of Lizzie Hines from Mount Magdala Home. M'Guire, M'Cullough, and Wormald were also charged alternatively with conspiring together* The two first-named pleaded not guilty, and Wormald pleaded guilty. Evidence given was to the effect that Cupples, while working at the institution, became infatuated with the girl, and get about getting her away from the home. He enlisted the services of M'Guire. who subsequently said that he had decided on employing two detectives, who would obtain the release of the girl. By various statements they obtained .£194 from him, but as they did not obtain, the release of the girl he became suspicious, and consulted a lawyer, with; the result that the accused wero arrested. Wormald, in giving evidence, said that •M'Guire told him he had "a fair dinkum mug," and was going to take Cuppleg down for some money. The jury, after a retirement of sixteen minutes returned a verdict of guilty against M'Guire and M'Culough, with a recommendation for leniency in regard to the latter. Sentence was deferred.