VALUELESS CHEQUES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1924, Page 4

VALUELESS CHEQUES

SCHEMES NIBBED IN THE BID. AUCKLAND, March It. The exploits of a self-styled lieutenant of the Bo,Mil Irish Constabulary were exposed in the lVlire 1 oiirl this morning, when Harry Edward Phillips twenty-three years of age. laced Mr .1. \V. Boynton. S.M.. charged that with intent to defraud, lie obtained £3 by means of a valueless cheque and obtained a cheque lor £3 hv lal.se representations. Accused pleaded guilty. “This man's schemes ''-ere nipped m the bud.,” stiid -Senior Detective Hammond, who went on to say that il Phillips had been allowed to continue t„. would have made things hum. I’hil--1 arrived here in January from the (ilii Country and il was belie'cd he had ft wife and child in Ireland. On landing here, Phillips repn-sented tliai lie was a lieutenant in the Royal Irish Constabulary and that he had come to New Zealand to make arrangements tor the immigration of men from that regiment. Accused said lie had military papers. Some entries* on discharges were obvious forgeries. Tor instance, he lmd never been on overseas so*vice and there was an erasure oil an entry regarding conduct.

"Phillips started to make him-eli known to people in Auckland.'' continued Detective 'Hammond, “and had ever gone so far as to set about making arrangements for offices, lie interviewed a number of young women as the result of advertising for typistes and he represented to them that offices were to he opened at Wellington and Arekland. He wrote to the Mayor of Auckland and to a number of country founcil.s concerning the absorption oi me i‘ into New Zealand. Ihe whole thing was a fake. During this time lie issued some cheques, including one for board, and these were dishonoured. Accused had all his typing done by the Rush Agency and had even gone so far ns (o have a letter written to the Commissioner of Police at Auckland authorising the arrest of a person for alleged false pretences. In order to create an impression lie had other ltdtors written to influential persons, inch.ding generals with high-sounding titles and many decorations. That the whole scheme was a fraud was shown by the fact, that the letters had never 1 ecu posted. They wore found in his possession. One of the cheques inentiuiecl in the charges had been stopped, so that there was only £3 to be made good."

“I realise that I have been a fool." said accused from tbe dock, speaking in a rather cultured accent. The Magistrate did not like the way in which accused had started off to deceive people. The fact that he intended to dupe young women was against him. Had he not been caught by the police he might have ended up goodness knew whore. Such men should be taught a lesson. He would he sentenced to six months' imprison nuuit on each charge, the sentences to bs cumulative. At a later stage tbe Item Jasper Cnhler appealed on behalf of accused to have the sentence reduced to six months. Mr Poynt-on decided to adjourn the question for a week.