O' BRIEN GETS SIX YEARS

NZ Truth, Issue 1174, 31 May 1928, Page 4

O' BRIEN GETS SIX YEARS

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Brisbane Representative*) JOHN ROBERT O'BRIEN,. the big-voiced "bunko" merchant, has been Sentenced tO. the maximum penalty on two charges of false pretences — six years' hard labor m all— by Mr. Justice Macrossan. O'Brien's sentence was adjourned from the March criminal sittings to give his wife ari; opportunity to sell up their home m Sydney towards making restitution of the £1344. 0f which he defrauded two Queensland men, Noble William. Richardson ar\d Percy McKnoulty, on the strength of fake patents; of useless motor-car 'accessories, which he was havyking around > New Zealand last year.

When O'Brien appeared before the Criminal Court last week, his counsel, Lawyer Neil Macgroarty, told the judge that Mrs. O'Brien had made every effort to '-sell -the- house, .but had been unsuccessful. "The furniture ha"d been sold for £264, but the mortgage money Would have to be paid put of that., ;

The Judge: "What I' will do will be to pass sentence on him now, and if restitution is made later, an application can be made tome for reconsideration." . ' . ; /

So O'Brien, "unprincipled sco.undrel," as he was described by the bench at his trial, will now have any number of opportunities of exercising his inventive faculties m another direction;, making hard labor light. He will be a better "man. than Gungha Din if he manages that.