FALSE PRETENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1932, Page 5

FALSE PRETENCE

FOUR MONTHS’ GAOL

SHOPKEEPERS DEFRAUDED.

At the Magistrate/,s/Court this;morning -before and A. E. Benjamin, • -charged l’ercy Thomas j alias: William Timmins, Thomas Harris,alias Thomas/Tirnson, with having defrauded Wiliiajh John Graham of £1 10s/ by falsely representing'that he had with John Shannon and Percy Cropp of , Koiterangi £75 in gold in the Bank of New South' Wales at ’Hokirika.

Accused pieadedjguiltyoTo. the charge

Timmins was * further,s charged that with intent to defraud?he did'attempt, to obtain from A. rNhneekiyeli the sum of £1 10s by tbevitame false pretence as he obtained'tho'.money' from Graham,

Accused pleaded guilty to this charge also.

Sergeant King outlined fh'e : case, stating accused had come to the district a few weeks ago, and had been sent to Koiterangi where he had been out prospecting, but had - not. obtained any gold-..' He had an. offer, jjpi work there bush clearing but had come to town and obtained rite mflfiey front Graham on the charge made. There was no gold lodged at:the Bank" -of New South Wales in his : name ; and he was not known there. The accrued had a dozen convictions for false pretences, and other convictions totaling twenty. In February he was convicted on a. charge ,of false pretence-and after serving a. sentence went to Blackball and committed a similar offence. Accused had nothing to say.

He was convicted and sentenced to three months’ hard labour on the first charge,, and convicted and sentenced to owe mouth’s .hard labour on the second charge, the sentences to be cumulative.