ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1655, 23 January 1906, Page 2

ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

A young nun named Thomas Halbert, was brought before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., at the Police Court yesterday, on a . charge of obtaining goods by false pretence?. Mr Blair appeared for accused. Ha bstt was changed with obtaining goods to the value of .65 18s 9d from Messrs Common, Shelton aDd Co by false pretence s, to wit, that they were for his father. Sergeant McKeDzie asked for an adjournment, stating that accused had only arrived from Auckland on Sunday. He understood that an effort was being made | to arrive et some arrangement. Mr Blair said ho understood the prosecutor bad siace seen the defendant’s relatives, learned from the youDg man’s mother that accused had some authority to order goods for the household, and that most of the articles were so obtained. In view of this information ho was advised that the firm hod no desire to prooeed further, There bad been no concealment of tho ma'ter. Accused did not anticipate anything like this and had communicated with Messrs Common, Shelton and Co. from Auckland, tellirg them of his whereabtuls. The firm were now satisfied that the boy had ecme- authority to purchase, and did not wish to press the oase, His Worship Btated that the information was laid that the goods had been obtained by false pretences. There evidently bad been some mistake, or there wa3 a desire of the relatives to get the ecaused out- of tho awkward d fliculty he was now in by ! making a different statement. There wore the costs of tho case ; it was not right the Crown should have to stand them. Mr Blair said ho would pay the exponses. His Worship 6a’d it. was a question whether the information should bo withdrawn. It was not like a civil caß3. If tho police after consulting with tho informant applied for a withdrawal of the case bo would have no alternative, but he suggested that further enquiries stould be made, and for this purpose granted an adjournment until Friday next, bail being allowed,