FALSE PRETENCE

Evening Star, Issue 19783, 6 February 1928, Page 7

FALSE PRETENCE

11 TROUBLE DUE TO DRINK” SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT IMPOSED “ The accused is an only child and has been somewhat spoilt by an indulgent mother,” said Mr C. J. White, ]n appearing for Arnold Vaughan Sutton, who pleaded guilty at tiie Police Court this morning to a charge that, on January 23, with intent to defraud, ho obtained from Georgo Leonard Newton £1 in money by means of a false pretence, a valueless cheque for £5, drawn on the Bank of New Zealand at Dunedin, and also to a charge of driving a motor vehicle in a manner dangerous to the public. Detective Beer said that on the date in question the accused took a cheque for £5 to Newton’s shop, and a youth who was in charge handed him £l, which was all the change lie had, and asked the accused to come _ back for the balance. Tho accused did not do so, but the money had since been refunded. Sutton was already on probation for false pretence. “ The whole trouble is due to drink,” said Mr White, “ and on this occasion Sutton had been drinking before he went to Newton’s place.” When he came to himself after the drinking bout he immediately obtained money to repay the amount he had received. Though addicted to drink he appeared to be trying to pull himself together, and the probation officer had received a letter which told how Sutton had picked up a bag in a telephone box and seen that it was returned to its rightful owner. This seemed to show that it was only when he was drinking that he committed such an offence. The Magistrate; Who is looking after his child? The Probation Officer (Mr J. Garbntt); The wife is looking after the child and tho accused is contributing half of his earnings. .

In respect to the dangerous driving charge, Chief Traffic Inspector M'Nicoll said that on January 10 Sutton drove a taxi in King street at thirty-five miles an hour. On being questioned he said it was “a hospital case ” he was doing. The owner of the car said that Sutton had no right to drive it. The driver of the car had been visiting his wife at the hospital, and Sutton had put on the driver’s cap and driven away to the Valley without permission. Sutton said that ho had been working for the Gold Band taxis at the time. The driver of the car went to see his wife at the hospital, and defendant had done the job at the Valley for Magistrate (to Sutton): “Why have you not cardtecl out the terms of your probation?” The Accused: “I have been unable to get work.” “ How have yon been getting money for drink?” the Magistrate queried. “ 1 have had spasms of work,” replied Sutton. The Magistrate; “And spasms of drink!”

On the charge of false pretence the accused was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, the Magistrate stating that the present probationary period of three years would stand. He warned the accused that if he came before the court on a further breach of his probation he would probably get a term of reformative detention.

Sutton was convicted and discharged on the charge of dangerous driving.