IMPOSTER GAOLED

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1932, Page 7

IMPOSTER GAOLED

MOTHER AND MISSING SON

BOGUS REPLY TO APPEAL

' •• "This man. is well connected, bu: has been a constant drain on his father, and has driven him to this grave,’’ stated la detective at Doncaster, when Trod James .Stott, aged 43, an unemployed painter, of Blackpool, was charged ■with attempting to obtain £27 by false pretences from Mrs Grace C. Allen. It was explained that Mrs Allen had not heard for some t'me from her son in Kenya Colony. She was anxious to trace him and inserted a paragraph in a newspaper asking for information, 'in reply she received a letter from a man signing himself “F.I. Geer,” and 1 giving an address in Blackpool. He asked for full particulars concerning the man, as he had met a person in Kenya Colony whom he thought might be he The writer said he was chief steward on a liner returning to Africa very soon and asked her to forward the return fare for her son, which would be £27, £39, £59, or £BO, accoi'd’ng A c grade. Airs Allen became suspicious, and. informed the police. She rent a registered letter, acting on the instructions of the police, and Stott was later arrested.

In Stott’s possession was found c. further letter addressed to Airs Allen in which he suggested that if she had not the whole of the cash she should borrow it from friends. He urged her to send the money, as it would be a pity if her son missed the boat, because it would be another seven or e : <rl:t months if she did not get him on this trip. He added that he had met her con and had assisted him with food and money.

The police stated that Stott had never been to sea. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.