WOMAN PAYS OUT £325

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 772, 19 September 1929, Page 1

WOMAN PAYS OUT £325

Man s Admission of Frauds

TRICKSTER’S TALE OF “UNCLE CHARLIE”

H°W a skilfully told story had so impressed a young woman that she had been persuaded to hand over to a customer in her shop was told at the Police Court this morning when Wilfred Harold Adams pleaded guilty to fraud charges involving £365 15s. Adams had spoken vaguely of liis “Uncle Charlie at Kemuera, m whose business he claimed to be making an investment. Another episode concerning an apparently mythical sum of £4,000 had cost the licensee of an hotel in the city £2B 10s.

Adams, a mechanic aged 28, alias Cahill, alias Lever, was charged with obtaining £325 from Ellen Pauline Smith by falsely representing that his name was Wilfred Cahill, that he had £1,500 in the bank, and that he required £325 to complete an investment in a company formed by his uncle at Remuera. The second charge was of obtaining £ 12 10s from the same woman by falsely representing that he had a £I,OOO life insurance policy with the A.M.P. and that he required the lnoney to pay a premium. The last charge was of obtaining credit by fraud by incurring a debt of £2B 5s with Arthur Larsen. A representative from Mr. Dickson’s office appeared for accused. Ellen Pauline Smith said that she was in business as a confectioner. Early last year accused had been a constant visitor to the shop, having his lunch and other meals at the tearoom. He had given his name as Wilfred Cahill and said that he had £1,500 in the bank. Accused, who had described himself as a traveller, told witness that his uncle, who was concerned in a car-importing business, had advised him to invest in that business. “He then made a proposal to me that I should lend him £325 for that investment.”, continued Mrs. Smith. “He did not give me his uncle’s name but spoke of him as 'uncle Charlie’ and professed to ring him on the phone telling him that he had the money to complete the investpient. I then drew £325 from the hank and handed it to accused believing that he was investing it in his uncle's business. He mentioned a firm of solicitors, Mr. Dickson of the .\’ew Zealand Insurance Buildings. INSURED FOR £I,OOO Accused told me that he was insured for £I,OOO and that I would be secured by that policy if anything happened to him.” Witness gave the date on which she had handed the money to Cahill, as she thought him to be, as June , 2, 1928. “After giving him the money I did not see him for a fortnight,” she said. It was then known by witness that accused's name was Adams. She had taxed him with it, and he had explained that he adopted the name of Cahill so that his people would not know he was borrowing from a girl. “It then came to my knowledge that the money was not invested,” -Mrs. Smith said. “Two or three days before it was due to be repaid. Mrs. Adams, accused’s aunt, died. He told me that, owing to the death, there would be a delay in the repayment.

That was In December of last year f. n< * i , t , was not untl l early this year that I became suspicious. In January I consulted a solicitor.” In August, 1928, accused had said that a premium of £l2 10s was due on his life-insurance policy and that, i£ the premium were paid, the company would advance £SOO on the policy and witness would get her £ 025 back. Witness had paid over the £l2 10s. She had never been able to get any money out of accused and he had avoided her since January. STAYED AT AMBASSADORS Arthur William Larsen, licensee of the Ambassadors Hotel, said that on July 2 last accused and a young woman had booked in at the hotel, occupying separate rooms. Accused had told witness that the young woman was up from Wellington to receive £4,000 that was due to her from Mr. Dickson, the solicitor. At the end of the first week £9 was owing. “I then told him that he could remain on provided that I got confirmation of his statement from the solicitor," continued witness. “He told me that Mr. Dickson was in Wellington, but that he would get the letter.” Another week went by and witness went up to interview Mr. Dickson, who was too busy to see him. “I then told him that he would have to settle up at once and he replied that he would get the money from his uncle in Remuera,” witness added. “He mentioned a schoolmaster at Grey Lynn, but no money was forthcoming, so he and the young woman left the hotel. 1 retained the baggage, which I have not opened, but it doesn’t look much.” On accused’s representation regarding the young woman a debt of £2B 5s had been incurred. It was in consequence of a complaint from Mrs. Smith that a warrant for the arrest of Adams had been issued, according to Detective Knight. “I arrested him on August 16 last,” continued the detective. “Among his effects were four luggage labels (produced) addressed to Cahill, Hamilton. He made a statement admitting he had obtained £325 from Mrs. Smith by false pretences and that he had incurred a debt of £2B 5s with Mr. Larsen by fraud.” Adams had declined to say what he had done with the money he had got from Mrs. Smith, but gave witness to understand that he could recover it. Pleas of guilty were entered on all counts and Adams was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. “I have nothing to say,” he remarked before pleading.