An Exposed Imposter.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7872, 14 July 1905, Page 4

An Exposed Imposter.

PLAYfc THE POLICEMAN AND SALVATIONIST,. WELL-MEKITBS PUNISHMENT. \ "A« impostor, ami a cruel one at Uiat,' was tbi character given to * jounj: nan named George Allen, Thorn Dr. H'Arthur, S.SL, convicted at Wellington of sii charges oi raise pretences ami sent to gaol for one " year i'b order to gir« him an opportunity oi reflecting on his misdeeds. Tire accused pleaded guilty to ail j the informations, and Cliief-Dclectivc M'tJrallt gave an explanation of the onYiiees. He said that accused, on 6th ins!., stayed at the Cambridge Hotel and obtained from Miss McCarthy. Ihv proprietress, £8 13s on Ihi jalse rcuicsetitalioii that lie was in the Torpedo Corps. On the 4th inst. he obtained £2 from Captain M'Lcod of the Salvation Army on the false representation that Ire was Captain oi tlit Salvation Array in Boston. His most cruel trick was committed ua thv 9th inst.. when he got £1 from Norah Morrell, a housemaid, «n the allegation that he was captain of the Hinemoa. On lire Bth inst. he obtained £2 Is 3d from David Sullivan, licensee oi the Post Office Hotel, by means of a valueless cheque, and last month lie got £1 from L*«iis Masters on the representation that his brat hcr-i it-law at New Plymouth required a cook. The accused explained that lie was a constable. He employed the informant, and asked him for £1 to telegraph to his brother-in-law. Obtaining the money, be was allowed io ke»p the change tin a certain time, when he was to have returned it. Needless to say, he never returned it. He was a man with a very bad record, 1 and prosecutor was contemplating asking his worship to send him to the Supreme Court for sentence. He now saw that his Worship could sentence him to twelve months' imprisonment on each charge, and hoped that his Worship would give him [what be deserved.

,c HaTe you anything to say, Allen ?" said his Worship. Accused mumbled something to the effect that drink during the last three or four weeks had led to his committing these offences. "That is the same old yarn again. It is rather low down," said his Worship.

Chief-Detective M'Gratli, iirterjectim? : "He had sense enough though to procure a uniform to enable him |to carry out his schemes !"

His Worship said the best thing he could do was to get accused aWay from temptation for some time On the first charge lie would pel \i •months' and on each of the other I informations throe months'— terms to he concurrent. As accused was leaving the dock his Worship said to him. "You can think over it in that time. An able-bolied fellow like you robbing a poor woman !"