VALUELESS CHEQUES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 149, 19 March 1921, Page 8

VALUELESS CHEQUES

FRAUDS ON WATRARAPA HOTELKEEPERS.

By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent. Masterton, March 18.

Tho Supremo Court sittings were oj.ened in Afasterton this afternoon, Mr. Justice Salmond being on the Bench. There were only two criminal cases on He calendar. • John Richards, who pleaded guilty to a charge of using obscene language, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. Stanley Wallace Green (for whom Air. Noble appeared) pleaded not guilty to a charge of issuing six valueless cheques to various hotelkeepers in the Wairarapa, the total amount involved being £36, Air. R. R. Burridge prosecuted for the Crown.

Thomas Bertram Nesbit, licensee of the Taueru Hotel, said that accused had stayed at his house for three days during Novemljer. A few moments before leaving the‘--hotel accused said he was short of cash, and asked if witness would cash a cheque. Witness cashed a cheque for £6; he gave accused £4 11s. 6d., the remainder of the money being kept to pay 'for accused’s board. Accused had paid cash for drinks, etc. To Air. Noble: Witness cashed the cheque, though he did not know Green. Similar evidence was given by Airs. Alice Barty (Blairlogie Junction Hotel), Airs Alartiia Thomson (Empire Hotel. Afasterton), Edward Houlihan (Taratnhi Hotel), and David Aloir (barman at the ATnrquis of Normnnhy Hotel. Carterton). The evidence of James Jolly (of the Bank of Now Zeiland, Alartinborough) and Constable R. Phillips was similar to that given in tho Lower Court. ( Tn addressing the jury Air. Noble made strong comment on the carelessness manifested by licensees when cashing cheques.

After an hour’s retirement the jury returned a verdict of guilty. Sentence will be passed to-morrow morning.