ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4833, 24 September 1894, Page 2

ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

A £IO,OOO Legacy,

Another rather sensational case of 'alleged fraud has just come to light hore which appears to rival in public interest tho celebrated" Crocker" cases, A man named Thomas A, Halsall, who some twelve years ago held the position of cook at Mi- T, Thompson's Empire Hotel, and who again turned tip in Masterton a fow weeks ago, was arrested on Saturday by Sergeant McArdle on several charges of false pretences. Accused on reaching Masterton is reported to have taken up his abodo at O'Meara's Boarding House, and representing that lie had

JUST BEEN LEFT £IO,OOO -vas allowed to remaiu without payment, particularly as he made many specious promises to do lots of nice things as soon as ho was ablo to handle tho money, On tho 11th of this month Halsall was married to a young woman who had accompanied him here, and shortly afterwards ho arranged with Mr Harry Nee, to purchase a house from him for the sum of £320, tho amount to be paii} in a we»k from the date bf arrangement.

THE NEXT MOVE was to order furniture from Messrs Hounslow and Hoar to thq tune of over £IOO, and also to tell Mr Hoar tovesovvo a certain piano for his wife's approval. Halsall noxt.approached a young man named King, who was staying at tho boardinghouso, and asked for tho loan of £2 to enable Mrs Halsall to go to Wellington and draw £IOO on account from lis solicitor. The lady went to 1 Wellington all right, but the solicitor (Mr Poynton)

REFUSED TO ADVANCE any money,', and from what .she then learned, Mi's Halsall, came to the conclusion that she had beon duped, so returning to Mastorton, calledon Sergeant McArdlo and toldhim all about it, Enquiry soon showed that appearances were decidedly against Halsall,, who was according arrested and charged 1)b ; . fore Mr T. Hutchison this morning I with obtaining £5 by falsepretences from William Keeble, of Masterton.! The Sergeant explained mates as' stated above, and said as

ShHRAIi MOIIK CHARGES would be preferred, andashowished to obtain tho ovidencoofMr Poynton, ho would ask for a remand. Accused making no objection, the remand was granted until Friday next, Sept. 28th. Halsall since his last appearance in Masterton, has travellod a good deal, and has, tho police state, been up to similar games in other places, Heis well-known in Punedin,' Christchurch and Sydney, at which latter place his first wifo died. He was some little time in Wellington before favoring Masterton with a visit,