“A TRAP FOR LEARNERS.”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5051, 12 November 1926, Page 3

“A TRAP FOR LEARNERS.”

ALLEGED FRAUD. HOTEL PROPRIETOR DUPED. Allegedly havipg called at the Waikato Hotel and obtained credit by 'fraud, a labourer named Dick Jones, of . Arap uni, appeared before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., at the Hamilton Court on Tuesday morning to answer the charge.

According to Senior-Sergeant Sweeney, Jones’ method was somewhat ingenious. With a companion he, called at the Waikato Hotel on a repent night, and they booked in. Next day Jones asked Albert Edward Blackwell for the loan of £5 to enable him to goi to the Thames races. He told Blackwell that he was unable to get money from the bank in time to enable him to catch, the train, and offered to let Blackwell have charge of his bank-book, which showed a credit of £4O, until he returned, when h would make a draw and iep,ay the £5. The loan was advanced, according to the Senior-Sergeant, and a few days later Jones returned and stated that he intended to remain over the show. He also asked for his book in Order, to draw out £5 to repay Blackwell. On getting possession of the book he disappeared, '#id was not s*en again until arrested. In the room which he occupied a portmanteau was found. This contained a quantity of very dirty clothes, while fastened to the inside df the lid by a red poppy was an envelope bearing the words, “A trap for learners.”

In imposing sentence His Wolfehip said that at first sight the transaction looked like an honest dealing, and even when accused decamped without repaying the loan he would have been prepared to let him off, but the note which was left demonstrated, clearly that ajceused had no intention olf repaying, and he must be convicted. The Magistrate stated that he recollected that accused had been before him at Christchurch under the cognomen of Smith.

The Senior-Sergeant said accused had 10 previous convictions for dishonesty. His Worship sentenced accused to four months’ imprisonment.