FALSE PRETENCES.

Shannon News, 4 May 1923, Page 3

FALSE PRETENCES.

ACCUSED SENT TO GAOL.

At the Magistrate’s Court, Palmerston North, on Wednesday, before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., Joseph Bates, alias Patrick McGovern, alias O’Brien, was charged on three counts: (1) That on April 9, at Shannon, he did obtain one overcoat and two pairs of trousers, of a total value of £7 6s, by falsely ' representing that William Henry Smith, - of Moutoa, had requested him to procure the goods on approval for him. (2) Between April 1 and 9, at Shannon, he did obtain by means of a false pretence the sum of £3 10s by representing to William Slater Gardner, of Shannon, that he was getting a hay press and had agreed to press Gardner’s hay. (3) That on Apidl 7, at the same place, he did obtain from William Henry Gunning two shirts, of a total value of £llßs, by means of a false pretence. ;

The accused, who pleaded guilty to . the three charges, elected to be dealt with summarily. Senior-Sergeant Fraser, who conducted the case for the police, briefly outlined the evidence relative to the charges. With regard to the first, the accused had entered a store in Shannon and procured the goods in Mr Smith’s name. Some days later, on that gentleman entering the shop he was asked by the assistant if the goods "’ere satisfactory, to which he replied that he knew nothing about the matter. With regard to the other charges the evidence was consistent, said the Senioi'Sergeant, with the accused having obtained the goods and money by misrepresentation. “Nothing is known against the accused previous to his present offlencs,” he added, “but he has been going about the country under different names. . He says his real name is Bates, but we cannot find out definitely, and as far as we know he is a stranger to this district.” When asked by the Magistrate if be had any explanation, the accused said he was under the influence of drink at- the time and regretted his lapse. The Magistrate: It is not a case of drink altogether; you .seem to have been going about the country taking people down, and you will have to undergo' a term of imprisonment. On the first charge you will be sentenced to one month’s hard labour, and on each of the other two charges you wil 1 go to prison for three months, the sentences to run concurrently.