“PROFESSIONAL IMPOSTOR"

Evening Star, Issue 22451, 23 September 1936, Page 8

“PROFESSIONAL IMPOSTOR"

POSED AS V.C. HOLDER HOSPITAL PROMISED WIRELESS SET OLD OFFENDER'S ATTEMPTED FRAUD “ A professional impostor,” was Chief-detective Young’s description of Harry Walker Reid l (42), who was sentenced by Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour in the Police Court to-day for attempted fraud. _ The accused had nine previous convictions for forgery, uttering, theft, and false pretences. His latest career of imposition was outlined by the Chief Detective, who told the court that, while an inmate of the Balclutha Hospital, where, incidentally, he left without paying, he posed as a holder of the Victoria Cross, and promised to make a donation of a wireless set to the hospital as recognition of the fine treatment he received while in the institution. Reid, who was represented by Mr J. G. Warrington, was charged that on August 22 he attempted to obtain from a city firm an overcoat and clothing of a total value of £4 10s by falsely representing that his name was Harry Bush, and that he had been employed for four years by James Ellison, of “ Moneymore,” Milton. He pleaded guiltv. Reid had been liberated on license on on July 8 last, after receiving 12 months’ imprisonment for false pretences on September 27, 1935, said the Chief Detective. His license _ expired next Sunday. He started his latest series of impositions by posing as a. wealthy farmer, staying at an hotel and getting possession of motor cars. The accused left the hotel without paying, and carried out the same practice at two city boarding houses in succession and then at a private hotel. On August 20 Reid telephoned a local drapery firm and said his- name was Ellison, and that he was a wealthy farmer. According, to his story he employed a. man named Bush, who was just out of hospital and short of funds with which to purchase clothing. That phone message, was checked and found to be false. _ “At 10 o'clock the following morning Reid called at the shop and was interviewed,” continued Mr Young. “ Detective Marsh, who arrested him last year, the shop, and when the accused saw him he left hurriedly.” The Chief Detective remarked that he did not know whether the shock Reid received was the cause of his contracting stomach trouble when he encountered Detective March, for he next went to Balclutha, where he was admitted to the hospital as a patient suffering from that complaint. He told the authorities his name was Bush, and that he was a boot importer, of Christchurch, and represented that he was a man of means and substance. He produced a letter purporting to he written by a friend of his stating that he was a holder of the Victoria Cross, and was worth knowing. “ Because of the excellent treatment he said he had received, Reid promised to provide the hospital with a wireless set,” said the Chief Detective. After leaving the hospital on September 6 (without paying) Reid proceeded to Gore, and tried to buy a car. The accused had married a widow with five children, but she had left him.

Mr Warrington pleaded for clemency. It was rather difficult to state anything in Reid’s favour, but counsel desired to stress three factors. The accused was in poor health, and while in prison was under the constant supervision of the prison doctor because of an ulcerated stomach. In view of his record he found difficulty in obtaining employment. A natural temptation caused him to be driven hack to his own particular bent. The third point counsel stressed w r as that, on the present charge, the firm did not lose anything. The Magistrate; The accused seems to be incorrigible. He certainly went about his offences ingeniously. He is sentenced to three months’ imurisonment with hard labour.