“A RICH UNCLE.”

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1917, Page 1

“A RICH UNCLE.”

GIRL’S SERIES OE FRAUDS

AUCKLAND November 26

Christina K. McDonald, 20 years of age who pleaded guilty to five charges of obtaining*by false pretences during August and September sums totalling £75, from Kenneth A Moleod, came up for sentence at the Magistrate’s Court to-day . Chief Detective McMahon said the young woman had faced two trials at the Supreme Court in respect of a previous charge, but that fact lmd not deterred her from indulging in further frauds. As far hack as 1915, she had written letters for the purpose of misleading her relations, particularly her father. The letters purported to have come from New York and referred to a supposed rich uncle, and the young woman had displayed a considerable amount of cunning to allow time for the information about the “American uncle’’ to become known, first to her immediate relative and later to relatives whom she intended “to deceive. She told a relative of hers by marriage that this rich uncle had arrived from America. She said he intended to give her t mothe.r sttone property Jvn.d ho wanted a loan of £ls he.had no immediate means, the Government having held hack his money. The £ls was obtained. Later the young woman said her “uncle” owned the. National Bank property in Queen Street, and that a well-known Auckland solicitor was his lawyer. These deceptions were carried on until she had obtained a total of £75. Mr: MoLoad was rung up on several occasions by someone who said he was the “rich uncle.” The girl now said that she had done so, but the voice had been that of a man. The police considered it was somebody else hut the girl refused to say who it was. Not one penny of the £75 had been recovered.. She had played a very cunning game, and was a danger to the community .

'Hie Magistrate said the case was one of the most extraordinary he had ever come across. For a young girl, prisoner had shown exceeding criminal canning. Her leSter s read like an •American- novel about a high-class “crook.” Reformative treatment for ’not- more than three years was ordered.