A TRIP ABROAD

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 152, 24 December 1929, Page 4

A TRIP ABROAD

INTERRUPTED BY GAOL

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, 7th November.

Harold Duncan (32), a traveller, who ■pent his childhood and youth in Christchurch, and who was employed in tho National Bank of New Zealand, has had a temporary check in his career, and is to spend six months in gaol.

Ho was charged at Manchester County Police Court on 18th November with stealing £280, the money of Frieda Herminia Wiedeu, Norbury road, Stretford.

Mr. W. B. W. Murray, who prosecuted, stated that Duncan was charged on an extradition warrant. Mrs. Wieden had become acquainted with him, and the two decided to go into the silk stocking business at Manchester and Liverpool. A joint account waa opened, into which dach put £150. Afterwards Duncan presented to Mrs. Wieden a cheque on the joint account with the ■word "two." He said it was for initial expenses. She- did not notice that he had not put in the word "pounds" after "two." He forged the cheque for £280, drew the money from the joint account, and fled the country. He was arrested abroad, and since his return he had been a bit peculiar. He had been under the- care of Dr. Shannon, medical officer at Strangeways Gaol, who considered that he was now able to understand the nature of the charge.

Chief Detective Inspector Dunphy, \>y whom the accused was brought back to England from Port Said, stated that the accused was born in Edinburgh and taken as a child to Christchurch, New Zealand. He had a good education, and at the age of sixteen entered as a junior clerk the National Bank of New Zealand, remaining in that employment till November of last year. For some leason unknown he left tlio bank, and after his departure it was found that he had gone to Durban. He had sent bankera 1 advice notes to Durban and other towns in South Africa for £600 each. At Durban he presented a false draft for £600, and drew the money from the Standard Bank of South Africa. He then sailed for England, and after visiting various parta of England and Scotland, he made Mrs. Wieden'a acquaintance at Manchester^ In his possession was £200 in travellers' cheques and a £1 note.

The chairman said that Duncan would be sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Out of the money in his possession £10 7s would go for witnesses' expenses, and twenty-five guineas to Mr. Murray as costs for the prosecution. The balance would bo handed over to the prosecutrix.