BOGUS CLERGYMAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1921, Page 5

BOGUS CLERGYMAN.

PURCHASES FOR HIS MARRIAGE. CHARGES OF FRAUD. , A REMARKABLE STORY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Claude Osmonde Barker (25), who had masqueraded as a clergyman in Auckland among business people just before the Easter holidays, came before Mr Poynton, S.M., to-day on three charges of having obtained about £l5O worth of goods on valueless cheques, and three other charges of having attempted to obtain a Hudson motor car and about £3OO worth of drapery and. furnishings by false pretences. He was also charged with being in un’awful possession of fire-Karms and ammunition. According to the evidence given, accused, immaculate in the cloth of a clergyman, put up at the Star Hotel on the Thursday before Good Friday, and during the day called at several business places. He invariably produced visiting cards printed "Rev. W. F. Don, M.A.”, and intimated that he was just from Christchurch, and had had his arrangements spoiled by the banks being closed for the holidays. On the strength of his appearance, the manner of his statements, and his cheques he obtained cigars, a safety razor and a cigarette case at Coleman’s, a camera at Suckling’s, and clothing at Fowld’s, in each case getting some change in cash which, he said, he required for tips at the hotel. It was noticeable that each of the three cheques issued was signed “F. W. Don”, and not “W. F. Don”, and that the printed numbers were cut from the cheques. The latter he explained as a Christchurch business custom. MOTOR CAR AT £925. Accused visited the flrm of the Gillett Motors, Ltd., and entered into negotiations for the purchase of a £925 Hudson motor car. He had a trial spin, and, being unable to get immediate possession of the car on a cheque he proposed to give, he made arrangements to have the use of it until after the holidays, when, he said, he could fully satisfy the vendors of his financial standing. He called at John Court’s, and told his usual story of being a clergyman from Christchurch transferred to Wellington, and on holiday to get married before taking over his new charge. He had a list of goods running to about £l5O in value. He proposed to call in his car later and get the goods, but the firm’s credit manager got him on the ’phone just before the bank closing time, and insisted on some satisfactory reference of ability to pay. On an offer to wire to a Christchurch bank for reference being passed over the business man stated, that the goods could not be handed over. Meantime accused had been to Andrews and Clark’s, and had selected (according to a list he had) household furnishings to the value of £l5O.

The clergyman’s inability to back up with references the financial obligations he proposed undertaking came to the ears of Detective-Sergeants Ward and Hammond, who visited him at the hotel. Under persistent enquiry accused failed to sustain his ministerial character, and eventually owned up when arrest was inescapable. “My name is Barker,” he confessed. “I have a business in Christchurch with a partner as motor engineers, and we have a partnership account in the Bank of New Zealand. I think it is in credit about £l5O. If I get a chance I will pay back the money I received here. I wapted to get married, and I thought I would get goods in this way. I thought this stunt out, and thought I could pull it off. I thought a parson’s clothes would bring them.” PLAN OF HIS CAMPAIGN. The detectives then found that accused had arrived in Auckland on Wednesday (March 22) in ordinary clothes, and had engaged a sample room, stating that he was a commercial traveller. When they visited the sample room they found a large empty wooden case and three large empty trunks, and a suit case containing a change of clothing and a loaded revolver in one of the trunks. There was also a sheet of paper with the following plan of campaign written on it in accused’s handwriting: “Boxes, sample crates, etc., must be put in hand as soon as motor is sold; get to Auckland in time to look out two houses; failing that; take sample rooms of cellar storage (one house ordinary, the other in dress); arrive in ordinary clothes; engage cellar; look round town and pick out your marks; then change and engage another sample room or house; stay at best hotel.” Accused told Detective-Sergeant Ward bhat he had intended using the motor only for transporting goods to the sample room, and then somewhere else. Afterwards he would have abandoned the car. Barker, for whom Mr. Dickson appeared, stated that he would formally plead not guilty, but that at the Supreme Court he would plead guilty. He was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.