PASSING VALUELESS CHEQUES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 124, 23 February 1928, Page 14

PASSING VALUELESS CHEQUES

LABOURER IMPRISONED John James Brennan pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to obtaining £lO by means of a valueless cheque from Edward Newligen, and to obtaining £l5 10s. by similar means from Fred Oliver. Brennan, a labourer, aged 33, was represented by Mr H. McCormick. Chief-Detective Ward stated that accused, who had been discharged from a North Island prison after serving a sentence of two years’ imprisonment in November last, had gone to Hastings, where by pretending that he was a wealthy fanner from Taihape, had cashed tb.e cheque for £l5 by buying three gallons of liquor from a brewery, receiving the change. By a like deception at Bunnvthorpe he obtained £lO 6s. from a hotelkeeper. Brennan then came to Wellington, where he tried to cash a cheque at a hotel. The licensee, however, was suspicious, and the police were communicated with, Brennan being arrested. For attempting to cash the cheque Brennan had been sentenced to two months’ imprisonment. When he was arrested on the latter charge it was not known that he was responsible for the present two offences, otherwise he would have been charged with them. In asking for leniency, counsel for accused suggested that as three offences had been committed about the same time, his client be given a chance. He was at present working, and willing to make restitution at so much per week. •The Magistrate: Accused has a substantial list, and in some cases lengthy terms of imprisonment have been imposed. He will be sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, with hard labour, on each charge, the terms to be concurrent.