“A MEAN IMPOSTER.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3802, 7 June 1928, Page 2

“A MEAN IMPOSTER.”

SENTENCED TO NINE MONTHS

Napier, Last Night. Colin Coryton was found guilty in the Supreme Court to-day and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment with hard labour on a charge that on or about April 5 at Rotorua he did obtain from Helen Caroline Lowry a sum of £3OO by falsely representing that he had a letter of credit for £llOO at the National Bank of New Zealand at Nelson. Evidence as heard in the Lower Court last Friday was tendered. Cross-examining Mrs. Lowry counsel for accused asked: I put it to you that you were sympathetic to this young man? Mrs. Lowry: Well, I am known as the most sympathetic and foolish woman in New Zealand.

Counsel: I agree with you as to the first portion of your answer. Mrs. Lowry: This is the last time though.

No evidence was called for the defence. Counsel contended that misrepresentation with regard to the letter of credit did not induce Mrs. Lowry to lend the money. He suggested that in this case it was Mrs. Lowry’s generous desire to help iCoryton more than anything else that induced her to lend the money on the security of a Rolls Royce car. Mr. Justice Ostler pointed out that Coryton admitted to the police that he told Mrs. Lowry he had a letter of credit and Mrs. Lowry said in evidence she lent the money on that assurance. The fact that she had enough business instinct when making the loan to get a promissory note and the security of the car was not at all inconsistent with her statement that she was induced to make the loan on a false representation. The jury took fifteen minutes to reach a verdict of guilty. In passing sentence Mr. Justice Ostler said it looked to him as though accused had been little better than a vulgar adventurer living beyond his means. “We in New Zealand,” he said “appreciate plain folk and know their worth. But you have been a mean imposter travelling about the country in a Rolls Royce car with a man servant, leaving behind a train of debt. It is in tlie public interest that you should receive a sharp lesson.”