POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 22457, 30 September 1936, Page 6

POLICE COURT

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) BUSHMAN’S THEFTS. Charges of stealing two cheques and failing to account for money were admitted by Joseph Meek (33), a bushman. Meek was charged with stealing at Ratanui on August 8 two cheques valued at £S 15s Cd, the property of James Strachan. He was further charged with receiving from James Stracban on August 1 £4 7s 9d in money and fraudulently -failing to account for it to Edward Thomas Frew, thereby committing theft.

Chief-detective Young said that accused was employed by Frew cutting firewood at Long Point, in the Owaka district. A load of firewood was trucked to a man named Strachan- at Dunedin, the accused and. Frew being each entitled to receive £4 7s 9d. On August 1 Meek came to Dunedin and went to see Strachan with a relation, whom he represented as his partner Frew. Because of this representation accused received £8 15s 6d, £4 7s 9d of which, rightly belonged to Frew. The total amount was used for his own purposes. When he received the money Meek was told that cheques had already been forwarded, and promised to return them. However, ho cpllected them and gave one to his partner. Payment on it had been stopped. Armed with the other cheque. Meek again came to Dunedin and cashed it with a local business firm. The chief detective added that nothing was known about accused, and suggested that he be remanded to enable further inquiries to be made. Meek was remanded for a week in custody pending a report from the probation officer. . A FURTHER REMAND. Stanley George James Murray (19) and Rolfo Jefferson Shirreffs (17) appeared on remand on a charge of breaking and entering the warehouse of Sargood, Son, and Ewen on September 22 and committing theft. Owing to a number of charges requiring further investigation, Chiefdetective Young asked for a further remand. The accused were remanded till next Wednesday, bail being renewed as formerly.