FALSE PRETENCES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2531, 18 June 1909, Page 5

FALSE PRETENCES.

DRIVEN BY FORCE OF CIRCUM-

STANCE

[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 17

A young man, named Stephen Kotze, was charged on four informations at the S.M. Court yesterday with obtaining £4 15 by false pretences. Accused bad represented himself as an insurance agent, and accepted money as premiums. Accused’s counsel said his client had: been driven to the offence by force of circumstances. Kotze was a native of Capetown, and had been lured to New Zealand by reports as to the prosperity of this Dominion. He emigrated with a young wife and baby, but on arrival did not find things as represented, and.- after much trouble lie obtained employment as insurance canvasser. His commission averaged about £2 7s per week. This he found insufficient to keep his wife and family, and driven to desperation, he committed the offence he was. now charged with. His-Worship said that while he was always ready to give a chance to first offenders, in this case there was more than one lapse, and a penalty must be imposed. Kotze would be fined £2 on each of two charges, and £1 on the third. .He was also ordered to refund the money ho had accepted. Default iii each case was fixed at tourteen days’ imprisonment. Kotze was also charged with the more serious offence of forging the name of J9 S £P“ Charieton to a bonus form on a policy issued by the Government Life Insurance Department. The value of the bonus was £52. The accused pleaded o-uiltv, and was remanded to tlie Supdome Court for sentence.