ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 902, 28 May 1903, Page 2

ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

At the Police Court yesterday, before Mr W. A. BartoD, S.M., August Zenker pleaded guilty to three charges of obtaining money by false pretences from Messrs W. A. Cox (T 1 10s), W. A. Friar (TO I7s), and Williams and Kettle (T 6 12s 6d), by means of a certain composition, “ beeswax.”

Mr Lysnar appeared for defendant, and called evidence as to his character. John Wilson Bright, manager of the Loan and Mercantile Company, stated he had known Zenker for tho last ten years, and during that time he had looked on him as an honest, hark-working man. Witness had done business with him and could trust him. Zenker was a foreigner, and was not used tc their methods of business. Thomas Daulton, a’neighbor of defendant’s, also bore testimony to Zenker's good character. W. A. Friar stated he had not known anything against accused prior to the present case.

Mr Lysnar said that defendant purchased the bec-swax from another person, and paid lOd a pound for it. In doing so he was told that Kempthorne and Prosser were buying it by the ton, but ho was toid that he must not guarantee it. The police had nothiog against Zenker, who did not know he was breaking the law when he sold the stuff. Zenker was cut of pocket £lO by the transaction altogether. H;s actual profit on the stuff sold was To 19s.

His Worship, in passing sentence, said that in tne case of such a series of offences he did not think he would be doing his duty to the public if he were to let Zenker off without imprisonment. It was % cry diflerent to a single case, where a person was brought suddenly into temptation. The first case was on May 2nd, the next on the 4th, and the third on the oth ins!., so that defendant had plenty of time to think what he was doing. The casc-3 were evidently premeditated fraud,and His Worship said he would not be justified in admitting defendant to probation. On the first charge defendant was convicted and sentenced to a month's imprisonment in tlie Napier Gaol, on the second 14 days, and on the third to a month, the sentences to be cumulative.