“DELIBERATE FRAUD.”

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 48, 25 January 1938, Page 12

“DELIBERATE FRAUD.”

COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE. MAN BEFORE THE COURT. Commenting that accused had committed a deliberate fraud under an assumed name, Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., sentenced Truman Wiltshire, a labourer and clerk, aged 34, to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour in the Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston North yesterday. Accused was charged that, on January 8, at Palmerston North, with intent to defraud, he did obtain £l7 by falsely representing that he had £s(j i j invested in a bookinaking syndicate, had been receiving £25 weekly from such investment, and that by investing £SO a person to whom representations were made would secure a return of £4 weekly for twelve months. Detective-Sergeant Meiklejohn, outlining the circumstances regarding the alleged obtaining of the £l7, stated that accused became acquainted- with a woman and said he would purchase her home for £3500. He brought a woman, whom lie represented as his wife, twice to see the home. Accused told the owner of the house that ho was an interior decorator from Toronto, Canada, and bad produced a card. Mr Meiklejohn said that accused, stating that lie had money invested in a bookmaking syndicate, had persuaded the woman to sign an agreement for £SO, of which £l7 was paid over, but before the balance of £33 was received by accused, who had said £BOO a week was being received from the men at the freezing works, tlie woman became suspicious. Acused had been discharged from gaol on October 6, 1936, and had failed to report subsequently to the probation officer. He had changed his name find kept out of sight until arrested. Accused had a lengthy list and was no stranger to tlie Court. There was a gap in his convictions, and accused lind explained that during this period lio went to America and joined the army there. He returned to New Zealand, but went back to New York, where lie was deported by the immigration authorities. Appearing for the defence, Mr G. Tremaine said that accused had been in steady employment for some time, but being pressed for money, be had borrowed tlie £SO with the intention of making restitution later from money due to him. Accused was sentenced as statod. Charged with tho tlielt, at Marton, on February 1, of a separator valued at £6, accused was remanded to appear at Wanganui on Wednesday. Accused was further remanded to appear again at Palmerston North on January 31 on a charge of allegedly forging a cheque for £ls at Ohakune on December 23.