CHARGE OF FALSE PRETENCES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1951, 13 March 1919, Page 3

CHARGE OF FALSE PRETENCES.

A MAORI IN TROUBLE. At the Magistrate’s Court, Palmerston North yesterday, before Messrs F. Aisher and A. E. Bennett, J’s.P., Kirnura Hairua, a Motuiti Native, was charged with obtaining goods and moneys to the value of £79 9s lid from Edmund Osborne, draper, of Main Street, Palmerston North, by falsely representing’that he was Kauri Hairua and had 5,000 acres of land in the Auckland district for sale, and was obtaining advances on the same.

Mr Cooper appeared for accused, and Detective-Sergeant Quirkc conducted the case for the police. Edmund John Osborne, draper, of Palmerston North, gave evidence that, on December 12th last accused came into his shop and asked if witness knew him. Witness asked accused if he was Kauri Hairua, and the latter replied, “Yes.” Accused then said his wife had died of influenza, and she had left him a lot of property, amounting to 5,000 acres, which he was selling to Mr Bell, and on which lie expected an immediate advance of £2OO. At this time witness believed accused to bo Kauri Hairua and decided to do business with him. Accused then selected goods to the value of £22 2s lid, which he took away on credit, and during the next two days he got more goods and money to the value of £23 17s on various pretexts, one of which was that he wanted to go to Wellington on matters connected with the sale of the property. Subsequently accused returned from Wellington and presented a letter, signed by Kauri Patea, which stated that £I,OOO had been now paid on the property. He also explained to witness that lie was the real Kauri Hairua, and that the name of Ids brothei 1 , whom witness knew well, w;is Taulekn Paten. Accused then asked for afiot her £lO, and was given £25 and goods to the value of £5 5s Id. and next day he got a further £3 14s lid. Witness was still under the impression (hat accused, was the lama fide Kauri Hairua, and that he was speaking the truth in regard to the land transactions. To Mr Cooper: The only benefit he hoped to get out of the transaction was (he ordinary business profits, as the time of the loans was too short for interest. Witness had previously done business with Kauri Hairua in Foxton.

Kiuit'i Raima, brother of accused, slated (hat the latter was known amongst the Maoris as Kimura Raima, alt bon, gh the “liaxies” might have cm Hod him Kauri. Witness had done business with Mr Osborne. He (witness) knew (hat his brother’s family had some land in the Waikato, but it had not yet been partitioned. Reginald T. Bell, llaxmiller, deposed (hat he had never had any transactions with accused in regard to the purchase of land, as slated .to Mr Osborne. Other evidence was given by witness, contradicting’ statements made to Mr Osborne by accused. Detective-Sergeant Quirke read a written statement from accused in which he admitted making certain false statements to Mr Osborne in order to obtain advances. .Accused, who pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was com-j milted for trial to the next sittings of the Supreme Court at Palmerston. Bail was granted in self £IOO and one surely of £IOO.