“ON THE SPREE”

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1929, Page 8

“ON THE SPREE”

FLOATED 12 “CJiEQUES.’s

SALESMAN SENT TO GAOL

“He got- right out on the spree, and issued these cheques,” said Chief Detective Hauiond in describing Percivai Rhys Wingrove (3d), a,salesman, who pleaded guilty at tiie Police Court, Auckland, last week to twelve charges of issuing valueless cheques, totalling £6O.

The chief detective said that Wingrove had got on a drinking bout in tiie middle of June, and from then until the middle of July, he had sent oil' the cheques, lie had served a previous term of reformative detention, and had also been on probation for false pretences.

‘‘This man does not stand in the category of the ordinary swindler who l goes about making a living by issuing valueless cheques,” said Mr L. P.. .eary, who appeared for Wingrove. “All the cheques have been issued when he has been heavily under the influence of alcohol. Every four or five'.years he gets out on a heavy drinking bout.” said Mr Leary. “LIVED IN LUXURY.” In a brief description of Wingrove’s iife Mr Leary said that he was a man vvlio had hived in an atmosphere of luxury, and he had had great expectations of wealth jvhen his father died. When in England in his younger days, lie had suffered from a weals chest, and Ais father had sent him to a Continental syia, and it was there that he had .ived in an atmosphere of heavy, drinking. Drink had been the bane of his existence his father had said. Mr deary produced the will of accused’s rather. One clause had read: “Always be kindly in thought towards your half-brother, for his affliction is a real disease, and he is not responsible. ”

Wlien Wingrore came to New Zeaand he married a girl under 21, and ne was arrested for making a false marriage declaration. In the Supremo Court he was sentenced to three years’ reformative detention by a judge who was sentencing his first prisoner, if vviugroves 'father had lived another day, that would have put him in a comfortable position for the rest of. his lire, for in 1924, his father had made another will, which included accused, out he had died before it was executed. REALISATION. “During the visit of the American licet in 1925, Wingrove got on a drinking Lout in Wellington,” said Mr -ceary, “I will put in the certificate of a Wellington doctor, who said that when Wingrove had drink he lost his powers of judgement, his sense of responsibilities, and nis powers of right and wrong. On the last hour, when he, realised the condition he had got himself into, he put himself in a nursing home, and when he sobered up and realised the mess he was in he went straight to Detective Sergeant Kelly and admitted the offences. Since lie gave himself up he has kept .completely off alcohol. I propose to do an unusual tiling, but this is an unusual case, and I ask that Wingrove be given probation. Unfortunately,' through circumstances which were peculiar, Wingrove knows the inside of a gaol. The only difference between reformative detention and gaol is the colour of the jacket he 1 wears,” ‘said Mr Leary. Called by Mr Leary, Detective Sergeant Kelly said lie had known accused for a number of years. During Ins probationary period he had carried out the obligations imposed on him. Wingrove had certainly been drinking heavily. At - one shop jn Auckland, wnere lie cashed a cheque, lie was so drunk that he left his cheque book beuind. He had gone down to Wanganui where he had started the pilgrimage of issuing valueless cheques. He had been seen in a semi-drunken state in Ohakune and Taihape. The Rev. C. W. Chandler, assistant city missioner, and H. R. Miller also gave evidence on accused’s, behalf. ROBBED THE PUBLIC OF £66. “Perhaps this case is out of the ordinary,” said Mr Hunt, “but four' days after the expiration of his probation period he breaks out again, and lie has robbed the public of £66. lam now asked to treat him as. a first offender: I can’t do that, but I will be lenient. He will be sentenced to three mo-nllis’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years’ probation and the money is to be repaid. He will take out a prohibition order during the time of the probation.”