ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 91, 19 April 1911, Page 7

ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

'A SERIES OF ADVANCES. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. W. G. Eiddell, S.M., a young man named William James Geddys Hughes, who appeared on remand, was charged with obtaining the sum of £51 10s from Elizabeth Blake and John Baptist Blake, aged 58 and 74 respectively, by means of false pretences. CMef-Detectiv© Broberg prosecuted, and Mt.'H; F. O'L'&iry appeared for accused. Evidence given by Elizabeth Blake, wife of John Baptist Blake, poultry farmer, of Karori, was to the effect that Hughes, </ho previously worked on an adjoining farm, called on her in June last, and stated that he had money coining from Home, with which he intended purchasing a farm, but thought Mr. Blake's farm was too small. He obtained £51 10s from herself and husband in the following amounts : — £2 10s (to enable him hos wife to take, a married couple's position in the country), £5 (for living expenses and fare to Westport, where a billet in a coal-mine was offering), three amounts of £5 (for living expenses, etc), £28 (to purchase furniture for a boardinghouse), and £1 (for incidental expenses). Accused ¦wrote many letters, all referring to money which was coming to him from ¦ England. The money was expected by every mail, but accused always had a ' plausible excuse. After obtaining the money for the purchase of the fnrmture accused wrote stating that as his wife had taken to drink he had decided to abandon the boardinghouse project, and tad usel the money to pay doctors' and (hospital expanses. Accused made further requests for money, but their eavingo were then used up. Hughes subsequently disappeared, and she called on Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., who, Hughes alleged, had signed -a deed for him. Mr. Kiddell, however, denied all knowledge of Hughes and the deed. She discovered that Hughes was living at Blenheim, and wrote to him stating that failing an explanation proceedinga would be taken. Accused replied offering to pay off the amount in .monthly instalments of 25&. Cross-examinetion by Mr. O'Leary elicited the fact that civil procedings had been instituted at frrst. Accused's statement that he had property at Home and would refund all moneys induced her to make the loans. John Baptist Blake's evidence was corrobative. Detective Andrews deposed to arresting Hughes, who said, "I got the money, and told a few lies to get it; but it was not by false pretences." He put in a lengthy statement signed by accused. Hughes reserved nis^ defence, and was committed for trial. Bail was allowed as before.

The premises of Messrs. Radford and Co., furniture manufacturers and dealere, have been removed from Man-ners-street to the premken in Willisstreet, formerly occupied by Messrs. W. H. Morrah. and Co., auctioneers 1 . The old auction Tooms, Avith the offices removed from the centre to the side, has been converted into a spacious showloom, a new shep front has been put in, and the premises have been stocked with an up-to-date assortment of new furnishings direct from the firm's factory at Petone. The display is complete and attractive, and consists of all kinds of furnishings of the latest designs and materials. Professor Kekule yon Stradnoitz has just made an interesting study of tho condition of many of the ancient ennobled families of Germany. The professor takes his facts from the records of the Central Society for the Assistance of German Nobles. Here he finds that the descendants of families whose nobility is beyond question are in some instances gaining a livelihood, such as it is, as clerks, shopmen, and minor, officials. M-anv have emigrated to America. Among these are scions of houses justly distinguished in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Not a few^ having put in their term of military service, are now passing their days in the ganke.