OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 48367, 28 September 1894, Page 3

OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCES.

Thos. A. Halsall before the Court, 1 (Beforo Mr T, Hutchiuson, S.M.) Accusetl, who appeared beforo the bench, was charge with obtaining the sum of L 5 from one, William Keeble, about September otli, Sergeant McArdle conducted the prose- ) cation.

William Keeble, called,stated that lie liad known the accused in Mastei'ton about twelve years ago. Came to witness early in September, and wished to obtain the sum of L 3. The next day witness money, as ho had been tql'lliyluin that his father left him the sum of LIO,OOO. Accused, in proof of this, Bhowed witness a newspaper clipping from the IPar Cry, asking his whereabouts as ho would hear something to liis advantage, also a letter which he purported to be from Mr Adams, bis solicitor in Dunedin, but i he told witness that his business was . now in tlio hands of Mr Poynton, solicitor of Wellington, who would . seo that his account in the Bank of Now Zealand, at' Dunedin, was transferred to tho samo bank at Masterton, He also mentioned that Mr Adams had been paid tho sum of L 75 for, his trouble in I the matter, Witness believed the statement of the accused, rathe fortune, and advanced tho money asked accordingly, A few days after • tho first payment, accused camo to witness for a further sum of L'2, as his solicitor could not come to Mas- : tei'ton, owing to pressure of business in Palmei'ston. This, the accused told witness, was the contents of a telegram from his solicitor, ReWmbered the 20th of September, tho accused asked witness for ' a pounds. Witness offered him i, L2 wVvjh he said was sufficient. Bo- • fore wi\ nesß gavo the accused ,thd money, lit was informed tliat.ac- , cused's wife was going to Wellington to bring up her child. Accused i ajotter/which ho said wasf l'oiti'-MrAdams, of Du#odin, ■ -S" liuwaß'tOigiyo .Inn 'wifo, for Mr it', , getting a loan,of ■ LIOO. . .Witness - waß told tliat Mr Poyntou hkd boen . up. to Mastertoh, tho Saturday before

witness gavo accused tho monoy,and had signed tho necessary papers. Had 110 understanding with accused I about ro-paymGnt of tho money, | further than relying upon his word' re tho £IO,OOO, >which ho. believed, j j Witness, cross-examined by the | 1 accused, stated that ho had known j l accused and his wife for' somo j considerable time. Did not remein- ) bor what was in the letter ho had 3 beon shown, but believed it was 1 from tho Enquiry Office of the Salv.ition Army. Gavo him .£2 to give his wife to go to Wellington, Was not a money loiider. 1 Joseph Win. Poynton, called, said , he was a barrister and solicitor practising in Wellington, Only saw , tho accused onco before, to his knowledge, and that about four months ago when Halsall came to his office . about a notice concerning him in the missing friends column of tho ICar Cry, told Halsall to write and 1 enquire who wanted him. Never saw I him since that timo until upon the . present occasion, Had no money belonging to him, and knew nothing further than what he had stated. Sent lioitlior correspondence nor telegram to accused, and made 110 ' entry about his visit, in his books. Accused's wife came to him and gave him two addresses, but 110 letter, 1 Cross-examined by accused, wit- ' ness said ho had informed him that ' a Mrs Burnett, of Duncdin, could 1 give him information re the advt, in ■' tho (far Cry. ' Tho case was adjourned until 2 o'clock, to enable the police to wire for further evidence, when the accused will be examined.