FRAUD ADMITTED

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1929, Page 7

FRAUD ADMITTED

AUCKLAND WOMAN VICTIMISED.

MECHANIC COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE.

AUCKLAND, Sept. 19,

How a skilfully told story had-, so impressed a young woman that she had been persuaded to Hand over £325 to a customer in her shop was told at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, when Wilfred Harold Adams pleaded guilty to fraud charges involving £365 15s.

Adams, a mechanic, aged 28, alias Cahill, alias Lever, was charged with obtaining £325 from Ellen Pauline (Smith by falsely representing that his name was Wilfred Cahill, that he had £1503 in the bank, and that he required £325 to complete an investment in a company formed by his uncle at Remuera.

A second ebargp was of obtaining £l2 10b from the same woman by falsely representing that he had a £IOOO life insurance policy with the A.M.P. Society, and that he required the money to pay a premium. The last charge was of obtaining credit by fraud by incurring a debt of £2B 5s with Arthur Larsen. A representative from Air Dickson’s office appeared for accused. Ellen Pauline Smith said that she was in business as a confectioner early last year.. Accused had been a constant visitor to the shop, having liis lunch and other meals at the tearooms. H e had given his name as Wilfred Cahill, and said that he had £ISOO in the bank. Accused, who had described himself as a traveller, told witness that his uncle, who was concerned in the car importing business, had advised him to invest in that business.

“He then made a proposal to me that I should lend him £3:25 for that investment,” Continued Mrs Smith. “He did not give me his uncle’s name ibavt spoke of him as Uncle Charlie, and professed to ring him on the telephone, telling him that he had the money to complete the investment. I then drew £325 from the bank and handed it to accused, believing that he was investing it in his uncle’s business. He mentioned a firm of solicitors, Mr Dickson, of the New Zealand Insurance buildings. Accused told me that he was insured for £IOOO, and that I would be secured by that policy if anything happened to him.” Witness gave the date on which she had handed the' money to Cahill, as she thought him to be, as June 2nd. 1928. “After giving him the money I did not sec him for a fortnight,” she said. It was then known by witness that accused’s name was Adams. She had taxed him with it and he had explained that he adopted the name of Cahill so that his people would not know he was borrowing from a girl. “It then came to my knowledge that the money was not invested,” Mrs Smith said. “Two or three days before it was due to be repaid, Mrs Adams, accused’s aunt died. He- told me that owing to her death there would be a delay in repayment. That was in December of last year ,and it was not until early this year that I became suspicious. In January I consulted a solicitor.”

In August 1928, accused had said that ft premium of £'l2 10s was due on his life insurance policy, and that if the premium were paid the company would advance £503 on, the policy, and witness would get her £325 back. Witness had paid over the £l2 10s. She had never been able' to get any money out of accused, and lie liad avoided her since January.

Arthur Larsen, of the Ambassadors’ Hotel, told how accused had stayed at the hotel and left owing money for board.

Accused, who said he had nothing to say, pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.