MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1220, 31 August 1911, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr. W. G. Biddeil, S.M.) SERIES OP DEALINGS WITH TRADESMEN IN CHEQUES. "NO ACCOUNT" AT BANK. PERSON CHARGED OWNS UP TO SEVEN CASES. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Ernest James Wilson, alias Taylor, was charged on seven allegations, some of false pretences, and some of forging cheques. • The amounts and other particulars of each cliarge appear in the evidence, which follows. Chief-Detective Broberg stated that Wilson liad already been declared an habitual criminal, and had been on probation when the offences were committed. Robert Allinder, 67 Mein Street, gave evidence to the effect that accused had called on him on August 14, to settle an account for £2 3s. Gd. for Hooper and Wood. Wilson had then tendered a cheque for JU, and had signed it as for Hooper and Wood. Witness had accepted the cheque, and had gave Wilsoa £1 16s. Gd. change. Charles David Lennie, storekeeper, 70 Vivian Street, deposed that, on August U, Wilson had ordered goods to tho value of .£1 12s. for Hooper and Wood, As payment ho tendered a cheque- on the Union Bank of Australia, for «£5 155., and this cheque was signed "Hooper and Woods." Witness had accepted the cheque, and had given £-i 3s. change. Albert Henry Cock,' licensee of the Central Hotel, Wellington, stated that, on August 14, Wilson had asked him to casli a cheque for £2 on the Union Bank. This cheque was signed "Ernest Wilson." It had been returned from • tho bank marked "No account." John Shortis, licensee .of the Princess Hotel, Wellington, said that Wilson had stayed at his liotcl on the night of August 15. On that day he cashed for Wilson a cheque for £2 on tho Union Bank. This paper was signed "Ernest Wilson." Tho bank had returned the cheque marked "No account." Robert Unwell, manager of the Taita Hotel, stated that Wilson had stayed at his hotel on August IS. While there ho had cashed two cheques—one for M on the XFnion Bank, signed "Ernest James," and the other for JC2 on tho same bank, and with the same signature. Reginald Do Vcre Hunt, ledger-keeper at ths Union Bank, gave evidence to the effect that there was no account at the bank in the name of "Ernest Wilson," or in the nnme of "Ernest James. Messrs. fooppv and Wood had an account as Hooper and Co. Jolin I'icot, assistant at Picot Bros., Karori, said that Wilson had been recently employed by Hooper and Wood, dairymen, of Karori. On August 12 he (Wilson) had called at the store and had ordered a bag of pollard, for which he had given a cheque for JCIO 10s. on the Bank of Now Zealand, Te Aro. The cheque was accepted and £!> 17s. Cd. changewas given. The bank had returned the cheque marked "no account," Leslio Harold Fee, ledger-keeper at tho Bank of New Zealand (Te Aro branch), stated that there was no account at the branch in the name of "Ernest J, Wilson,"

Thomas Wood, partner in the firm of Hooper anil Wood, said that Wilson had been employed by them for about seven weeks up till June 30. The- cheques signed "Hooper and Wood" had not been signed by either member of the firm, ami no outsider had !ia-l authority to sign. Detective Hammond deposed that he had arrested Wilson on August V.I at Lower Hult, and found in his possession a Union Bank cheque book. Ho (the detective) had charged Wilson with Uμ whole of the offences,' and the latter had then stated his intention of pleading guilty. Wilson pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. NEWCOMER'S BAD START. A youth named Charles M'Bain was charged with the theft of ;i bicycle. Chief Detective liroberg stated that on Tuesday afternoon an employee in a tailor's shop in Manners Street had left a bicycle outside. M'Bain had gone along, somev.-hat under the influence of drink, taken the bicycle, and gone to a secondhand shop with it. Dctectivo Kemp, in investigating the matter, had questioned accused; who had replied that a man had given him the bicycle. M'Bain had also told some other story as to how he had become possessed of the msehine. Then he had confessed to the theft. M'Bain had arrived in New Zealand about five weeks ago by the Xairnshire, on which ho had worked a passage. Ho had been employed by two people since landing in Wellington. Ho had left one place because he did not like work, and had been dismissed from the- oth?r because he was too slow. His Worship considered that M'Bain had made a bad start, but hoped that he would take a lesson. He was convicted and'Orderod to come np for sentence when called on.

OTHER CASES. George Alfred Tracey, charged with stealing carpenter's tools at Johnsonville, was remanded till Sentember G. Alexander Cardell * was fined 10s.' for inebriation.