AN INGENIOUS FRAUD

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4451, 13 May 1930, Page 3

AN INGENIOUS FRAUD

MAX WHO ADVERTISED FOR FUN. GETS SIN MONTHS GAOL. “Should this meet the eye of William Patrick O’Donnell, late, of Stroll;estoun, Ireland, now believed •to be residing in New Zealand, he will become a wealthy man by communicating with Farrell and Farrell, solicitors, Stokestouu, County Roscommon, Ireland.” This was the advertisement, inserted by himself and purporting to come from a Lower Butt solicitor, which William O’Donnell had inserted in several newspapers and by means of which he induced several Manawafcu people to part with sums of money. O’Donnell appeared at the Palmerston N. Police Court yesterday on a charge of false pretenses. He pleaded not guilty to live charges and conducted his own ease from the dock, after electing to be dealt, with summarily.

Walter G. Floyd, of Palmerston N., stated that he bad lent O’Donnell 2/6 in an hotel until 12 o’clock as the latter said he was expecting a wire. “I never saw any more of him,” said witness. Mita Warbrick, a Maori, of Bulls, said O'Donnell told witness his name was Coleman and that he had had a fortune left him in Ireland and was going to buy land. Accused asked for a loan, producing a telegram purporting to have come from a Lower Hutt solicitor, reading “Sending £511.” Witness lent accused £l.

Percy of the family Hotel, Poxton, stated that lie had given accused board and lodging to the value of £2 10/- on the strength of the papers he had produced. Accused: Didn’t I give you £l7 —Yes. Accused: Well, how about that? —You look it out in drink. Rachel. Stevenson, cook at the hold, was another victim. “He came to the kitchen door and asked for me, and when 1 went there he asked for lid,” she said. “I said 6d wasn’t much good and lie said to give him as much as i could spare. 1 lent him iO/-.” Detective Barling’ read a statement which accused had made, admitting aii. the offences, lie also adult ted having put. the fake advertisement in the papers and stated that the telegram was false. Accused told the Magistrate that he put the advertisement in the papers when lie was working. There wine some people having money left to them and i put it in for fun and never thought of taking advantage of it, lie said.

“You seem to have been trying this up the other end of the island in 1920,” observed Mr j. L. Stout, Consulting a list of previous convictions against accused. “I’m ai'raid you’ll have to get six months on the charge of obtaining money from Hickey, and three months on each of the other charges, sentences to be concurrent.”