FREE TAXI RIDES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 543, 21 December 1928, Page 13

FREE TAXI RIDES

MAN WHO IMPERSONATED POLICE “VALUABLE CARGO” Stating that he was a police inspector pursuing momentous inquiries, Alec M. Putan recently succeeded in deceiving a taxidriver and enjoying a motor trip without the drawback of having to pay for it. Putan was charged at the Police Court this morning with impersonating the police on November 5 and obtaining credit by fraud. Chief-Detective Hammond said that Putan had gone in a taxi to a house in Grey Lynn, telling the driver that he was a police inspector following momentous inquiries. He had described himself as valuable cargo. “When they arrived at the house,” continued the chief-detective, “Putan kept the driver waiting for about two hours. He was then driven back to town and politely told the taxi-man to call at the police station for his fare.” Putan’s explanation was that he was ill at the time and did not realise what he was doing. • Pointing out the seriousness of .the offence, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., said that he would give the man a chance this time and fined him £1 and costs on the impersonation chargb. Putan was ordered to make good the money he owed the taxi-driver, £3 4s.