A New Industry.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 78, 2 April 1895, Page 3

A New Industry.

Donald McPherson, who was con- * vicfced rj. Auckland last st-sriou c-f forpiry and uttering, apmus 1o be a young man of varied capabilities, and Judging from the evidence fts to < haracter given before Mr Justice ( onuolly and a jury, false pretences are a special feature. Mr J. A. Tole, in opening the case for the prosecution, said the prisoner had been collecting funds presumably for the Salvation Army. The heading was: “We arc seriously in need of £llß to enable us to commence the Tear ns far as possible out of debt.” Evidence would be called to prove that the man had no authority to collect, and had not handed funds to the Salvation Army. The prisoner being sworn, admitted the document having been in his possession, and having collected money upon it, but he did not know how it was forged. Upon bis arrival in Auckland, he made the acquaintance of a gentleman who said he was a worker in the Salvation Army. He said the army needed money, and witness gave him £l. A f«w days later this gentleman, whose name he did not know, asked him to take the list and collect thereon, which he did. Witness collected £B 10s, which he handed over to the gentleman. The jury, without retiring, found the prisoner guilty. His Honor asked if anyone present knew anything about the prisoner’s career, Constable Scott was put in the box, and stated that McPherson was at Aratapu, and by some means got possession of a watch belonging to a boy. He was to have taken it to Dargavile, but he sold it, and bought a ring with the money for a young lady to whom he whs to have been married, only he was arrested before the time fixed. Detective Chrystal said the prisoner had been .in several cases. He got a watch on the pretence of taking it to Mr Henrickson for repairs, but pawned it instead. Chief-Detective Grace stated: “ This man advertised for a wife, your Honor. A young lady answered, and ultimately introduced him to her father. He afterwards went to her employer, represented himself as her husband, and managed to get a portion of her wages. Another lady now claims him as her husband.” Hia Honor said : I look upon yours as a most disgraceful case. In every direction you have been cheating and defrauding people. There are no less than four charges in which you are now suffering sentence, and there is another for which you have not been prosecuted, besides this one upon which you have just been tried. You are doing your best to prevent charitably disposed persons from giving sums for good purposes, by using the name of the Salvation Army, and although some of us may not entirely agree with that body, there is no doubt they are trying their best to do good, and, I hope, successfully. But such as you are likely to prevent people from giving money to that object. I look upon this as one of tbe worst class of offences. You are sentenced to three years’ penal servitude.