A MEAN IMPOSTER

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1928, Page 4

A MEAN IMPOSTER

A CHARGE OF FALSE REPRESENTATION. NAPIER, June G. r Colin Coryton (who was on a joy ride to the West Coast before his arrest at Groymouth) was found guilty in the Supreme Court to-day and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment with hard labour on a charge that on or about April 5, at Rotorua, he d.id obtain from Helen Caroline Lowry the sum of £3OO by falsely representing that he had a letter of credit for £IOOO at the National. Bank of New Zealand at Nelson. Evidence as heard in the lower ! court last Friday was tendered, ; Cross-examining Mrs Lowry, counsel for accused asked : I put it to you that you were sympathetic to this young man? Mi-s Lowry: Well. I am known as the most sympathetic’ and foolisli woman in New Zealand. Counsel: I agree with you as to the first portion of your answer. Airs Lowry: This is the last time though. No evidence was called for the defence. Counsel contended that the misrepresentation with regard to the letter of credit did not induce Mrs Lowry to lend the money. He suggested that in this case it was Mrs Lowry’s generous desire to help Coryton more than anything else that induced her to lend the money on the security of 1a Rolls-Royce car. Mr Justice Ostler pointed out that Coryton admitted to the police that he told Airs Lowry he had a letter

of credit, and Airs Lowry said in evidence that she lent, the money on that ■assurance. The fact that she had enough business instinct when making the loan to get a promissory note and the security of the car was not at all inconsistent with her statement that she was induced to make the loan on a false representation. The jury took fifteen minutes to reacli a verdict of guilty. In passing sentence Air Justice Ostler said it looked to hint as though

accused had been little [better than a vulgar adventurer living beyond his means. “We in "New Zealand appreciate pjnin folk and known tlieir true worth, but you have been a mean impostor, travelling about the country in a Rolls-Royce car with a man servant, leaving behind a train of debt. It is in the public interest that you should receive a sharp lesson,’’ said his Honour.