FALSE PRETENCES

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1929, Page 3

FALSE PRETENCES

GREYMOUTH, Jan. 28

Before Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning, Patrick Hugh Devlin was charged that on. 4th January, by falsely representing himself as Janies Devlin, he did obtain the sum of £5 from William Thin. Accused sent a wire from Kumara to William Thin, at Dobson, stating that he required £5 urgently, and signed the wire James Devlin,-ythe latter being a brother of the accused. William Thin, on receipt the wire, forwarded a money order Hr £5 to Kumara, payable to James Eicvlin at Kumara Post Office. Accused took receipt of the money order, and signed himself James Devlin. William Thin stated that if he had known the money was for Patrick Devlin, he. would not have sent it. He knew both the accused and James Devlin, having worked with the latter three years ago. Accused stayed for a while at Kumara, and later on left there, owing his landlady £l, whom' he told he had no money. He came to Greymouth, and aftei staying a couple of days at a hotel here, left owipfr lbs. During this period he spent pic £5. Accused was a single xnmi working, at Moonlight. The y-ViTigistrate (to accused): “When can you make good the £5.” Accused: “In about a month.” In view of his not having had any previous convictions, accused was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months. He was also ordered to pay the £5 to William Thin before February 28th and to pay 15s 6d expen-ses-incurred in bringing him from Moonlight to Greymouth.