HUSBAND’S DECEPTION

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1926, Page 9

HUSBAND’S DECEPTION

DID NOT TELL HIS WIFE STRANGE CAREER ENDS IN CRIME STORY TOLD IN THE COURT. Invercargill, Nov. 19. The web that Albert Edward. Beadle wove when first he practised to deceive his wife was untangled in the Police Court to-day before Mr. Cruickshank, S.M., by Detective-Sergeant Carroll, who prosecuted, and Mr. Ritchie, who represented accused. Beadle had two charges to face, both being of obtaining money by false pretences. Accused’s solicitor accounted for his client’s lapse from grace by a tale both tragic and romantic. Beadle was married about six months ago. At that time his prospects were rosy, and he enjoyed a happy honeymoon. Not long after his return fapm this blissful holiday he lost his position, and then, to use Mr. Ritchie’s words, “his male instinct to make the best appearance before the female,” caused him to commit the grievous error of not telling his wife of llis misfortune. For months there followed a deception that must have been a terrific strain on the principal actor. WENT TO WORK AS USUAL. As far as his wife knew he went to work as usual, and she received, as before, money for her household expenses. Unfortunately this money had been borrowed by Beadle. When ordinary borrowing was no longer available he resorted to less honest means of obtaining money, with the result that he appeared in court with two charges to face. The first intimation his wife had of things being amiss was a notice of a meetmg of creditors for a short time ago. Beadle’s affairs became so bad as to make such a meeting necessary. The charges were as fellow. That on August 26 he obtained from James Robertson the sum of £l5 by false pretences; and that at GleHham, on September 20, he obtained the sum of £lO from Duncan Campbell McKenzie, by falsely representing that he had money in either the Invercargill Post Office Savings Bank or the Invercargill Savings Bank. Mr. Ritchie asked that the second charge be dealt with first. He pleaded not guilty, and elected to be dealt with sumamrily. BORROWED FROM POSTMASTER. Detective-Sergeant Carroll stated that, accused had been touring round tha country selling a wireless apparatus. He had called at Glenham. Mclicnzie kept a store there, and was also in charge of the post office. Accused called at the store, and asked for a post office cheque. McKenzie informed him that there were no such things, and advised him to ring up the postmaster at Wyndham. Accused then asked him for £lO on loan, stating that He had money in the Post Office Savings Bank, and would repay it in a few days. He did not pay the money back, despite several letters from McKenzie, but the latter received a notice to attend a meeting of creditors in accused's estate. Mr. Cruickshank eaid that he was satified Beadle had borrowed the money by making a false statement. He had led McKenzie to believe that he had money in the post office. His statements might have been a bit vague, but McKenzie had been misled. Accused would have to be convicted. RAISED LOAN ON ANOTHER'S CAR. The second charge was then taken. Accused elected to be dealt with Summarily, and .pleaded guilty. By the police it was stated that Beadle had wanted money urgently, and had raised £l5 on a Dodge car he was using from a Mr. Welsh, who instructed his solicitor, Mr. Robertson, to prepare a bill of sale. Accused stated that the car was his own, and was unencumbered. Mr. Robertson drew up a document, and accused signed it, and received £l5. He <?id not pay this back. Gormaek and Pettigrew seized the car under'the hirepurchase agreement, no instalments having been paid on it. Welsh’s security was therefore no good. The Magistrate: That is a crime. Under the Chattels Transfer Act I gave a man three months for that in connection with cattle. “A CONFOUNDED FOOL.” Mr. .Ritchie said accused had been married six months ago. Ho had made his own furniture, and at the time of his marriage he was earning £5 a week, plus commission. Not long after his return from the honeymoon he lost his job. He did not drink, smoke or gamble. His money had gone to household expenses. It was a great mistake of his not to disclose to his wife his true position. He had been a confounded fool to himself, and others had to suffer for his lolly, his wife being the chief sufferer. He had been strutting before his wife and people. His wife had left town, and would not go back to_ him until he proved himself a man worthy of her respect. He had had his lesson, and counsel urged that he r.reive the most lenient treatment possible. A CLEAN RECORD. Detective-Sergeant Carroll said the accused had a clean record. The magistrate referred to Beadle’s previous good character, but stated that ho had done two very wrong acts. Had he not got into trouble now he would have done so before long. The case was adjourned till Monday so that the magistrate might receive the probation officer’s, report.