CLEVER FRAUDS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 59, 3 December 1926, Page 13

CLEVER FRAUDS

CHEQUERED CAREERS STAYED MAGISTRATE AND PRISONS BOARD “WHAT I’VE DONE I’VE DONE” Dominion Special. Auckland, December 2. Terms of imprisonment were imposed this morning on Roland George Collins and Ftancis Edward Diggle, two men previously known to the police, who operated in Auckland with a view to obtaining monev from shopkeepers and others by false pretences. In all, the pair obtained £2O 145., and made attempts to obtain a sum of £46. Collins pleaded guiltv to the theft of £l4 6s. fid. from the Provident Life Insurance Company, Wellington, by which companv he was employed as a canvasser and collector. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., sentenced Diggle to six months’ imprisonment. Collins, who was stated to have influenced him, was sentenced ’to two cumulative terms of six months, to be followed bv twelve months’ reformative detention. When Collins had his solicitor (Mr. Fennell) ask that the term of reformative detention be changed to imprisonment with hard labour, the Magistrate refused. “What I’ve done, I’ve done, said Mr. Hunt "Perhaps the Prisons Board wont release him so soon this time.” Collins was remanded to appear at Christchurch on two charges of false pretences and two of forgery. His companion in crime was remanded to Christvicted this morning on six false pretences. Each of the accused was convicted this mornin gon six false pretences charges, while Collins was also convicted of theft. The fraudulent operations of the pair were brought to an abrupt termination on November 11, when they were arrested in a Queen Street restaurant by Detective-Ser-geant Issell, of the Newton Police Station. When brought out to the street Diggle broke away and bolted for the waterfront. By the irony of fate he was overtaken and held bv one of the very shopkeepers whom the pair had endeavoured to victimise a few days earlier. Neither Collins nor Diggle made any attempt to conceal his guilt, and the full story of their exploits in Auckland is now known. Arriving in Auckland-on October 23 the companions in crime put up at a city boardinghouse under ficititious names. They next set about finding means of procuring money without the trouble of working for it. Diggle went to the bank, gave an assumed name, represented himself as a contractor to a suburban local body, deposited £2 and obtained a cheque book. The first victim selected was George D. Botes, chemist, of Karangahape Road. Collins entered the shop and bought 7s. fid. worth of goods, tendering a cheque for £6 45., which was cashed. There was more finesse about the next deal. Collins entered Mrs. Mairs, florist shop, in Karangahape Road, representing that he was representative of i firm of furniture manufacturers. As an employee had died, Collins explain--id, the firm desired to purchase a wreath. The florist went to the trouble ji going into a private room in order to consult a newspaper, and sure enough there was a funeral notice of the man named by Collins. A cheque _ for £5 10s. was presented, ’ Collins stating that the wreath must be delivered to the undertaker’s mortuary by 11 a.m. next day. The florist, who at first demurred about cashing the cheque, eventually handed the money over, Collins explaining that he must have the cash with which to pay for the funeral taxi cabs. After her customer had departed the florist consulted the telephone directory, and found that the name of the firm given bv Collins was not shown. Thereupon she rang the police. • „ . , A Parnell grocer named Smith was next honoured with a call. Collins assuming the role of a benefactor, told the grocer that he had come to pay an account owing by cne of the shopkeeper’s customers. Being led to believe that Collins was a brother-in-law of the customer, the grocer expressed delight at this offer, but as the amount owing was only £6 16s. he was surprised when Collins produced a cheque filled in for £l5. He was unable to cash it. Collins said it was his last cheque form. Whereupon the grocer said, “Oh here is one of mine. Fill it in for the amount owing.” Hoist by his own petard, Collins was compelled to make cut a valueless cheque without profit to himself.

A visit to the Strand Hotel, Parnell, was the next item on the programme. The licensee cashed a worthless cheque made out for £3. Collins then conceived the idea of buying furniture, and he had himself introduced to Mr. N. W. Travis, of the Dependable Furniture Company by his friend Diggle, who was very pressing in his request for £5 commission for bringing about the sale. Collins, who was represented as a wealthy man, bought furniture to the value of £3l, stating that lie was about to get married. Mr. Travis accepted ' a cheque for £3l and said lie would pay the commission to Diggle when the cheque was cashed. Needless to say the commission was never paid, and the police soon had another complaint with which to deal. Mr. Fennell asked for probation for Diggle, the younger of the two, who had been led astray by what counsel termed “a master mind.” As far as Collins was concerned it . could not be denied that he had a list, but Mr. Fennell thought the Court might impose only a short term of imprisonment. Collins had a wife and cnild in Australia, of whom he was very fond, and if he were given a short term he would get away to Australia as soon as possible, locate his loved ones, and set to work to make a home for them. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M;, remarked on the fact that Diggle had served six months for theft on a previous occasion. He had not profited by that lesson, and could not be granted probation. As for Collins, said Mr. Hunt, he was a’ man who had been released on probation bv the Prisons Board. He had a verv bad record and had been in and out of prison since 1023. “You sav he is verv fond of his wife and child.” said Mr. Hunt, "but I see here on the list that he lias been proceeded against on a -maintenance order. That doesn’t look like being verv fond of them.” The Magistrate thought it best to nut him out of the way for a long time.