COLD-SLOGGED OFFENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9846, 27 October 1924, Page 3

COLD-SLOGGED OFFENCE

BOYS ISSUE VALUELESS

CHEQUE

How two lads both under 16 years of age tricked a- Chinaman l with a forged cheque and obtained £1 from him was told in the Juvenile Court on Saturday, when the two, youths word arraigned before- Mr 40. O. Lc-vvey, S.M. When charged, with obtaining the sum of £1 from Dick Munn by means cf a valueless cheque both lads p’oaded guilty, one stating that he had filled in the cheque and the other admitted having issued it. According to the Senior Sergeant Fritzpatfiek, one boy was working for a- local firm, which recently had missed three blank cheque forms. On Friday last one of the lads went to the Ch mainau’s in Bright Street, produced a .-cheque for £2 15 and asked for 35s wcxtli of onion p’auts and £1 in change. Ho received the change and later called back for the plants, lit was then .that the Chinaman pointed out that the cheque was not dated. The hay signed the date to the cheque which, on being presented to the hank, was found to he a forgery, it seemed that there was no doubt that the hoys wore equally guilty. One hid had been given probation only a week or two ago for taking possession of somebody’s motor-car, while the father of tile second- by was in gaol. If was very necessary in ids opinion that the lads should he placed under restraint, as the statements made by tho hoys concerning -tlie matter was conflicting. _ . . When questioned by the Magistrate rs to who stole the blank cheque forms, both lads denied taking them, each blaming the other. ’J he Magistrate: I do not want to send the hoys to goal, but I do not know what to do with them. It was a cold blooded offence and the police report is not satisfactory. An offer was made by the father of one hoy to keep him under proper control during the period cf his present probat.on. The Magistrate agreed to this cause ccnd fcior.ally upon the father entering into a bond of £SO. A remand for a week was granted in the case of the second lad, to enable h:s mother to endeavour to obtain 1 arm work for Him.