FORGERIES

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1930, Page 3

FORGERIES

CULPRIT ADMITS OF NINE CHARGES. ,i v ' - _li » ,{ t f- .. ggy Telegraph—Presß Association) BLENHEIM, Sept. 2. -Orftmrto earth eight months after perijetfatiug a series of chequd frauds in a '-nian .noiindcl-- Oliar-les LesiM Ling; - . alias Lenard;. alias; E; Per--ciris, aged 37 years, appeared in the 'Police; .Court' to answer:• nine: charges ipiging- out- of * dishonest , operations, i At the time the frauds created a distinct sensation in Blenheim for a

large number of trades--|eqpi| :aiid -hotel-keepers were victimthe total sutirinvolved was lertoad;:- Tliei accused was ' arrested is! Aialrtinbproffgh and was ’•emanded to appear at Blenheim for was no ta‘ace ( of.:,the companion he was alleged to have had at rths .time-tlfa.t the frauds were committed.

“ tlje Story! as it came out in the evidenfeof was tlikt Ling and another man were working from the end of last vear until January Bth. last for G. F. at Lansdmvne Station. They were paid by cheque, and, coming to Blenheim, Ling opened an account at Ifibe (National Bank of - .-New. Zealand, lAllMined a. cheque book,- and then pro-.

&efe'Sed 16 make out a number of cliepayable to various fictitious persons for valuing amounts, to all of which he forged Watts’ signature. These cheques were presented by Ling companion at various shops 1 And"'"hotels. In ehch' instance, small rfurchakes 'were made, and considerable sums were secured by way of change. An opportune time was selected for varrying out the frauds, for before the -cheques- could be presented at the hank, the perpetrators lvad ample time to make themselves scarce. Descripr&rnaj. of the men were circulated (throughput the country;-but they appeared to have vanished into thin air until the arrest of the man Ling was effected. Tlie.-accused was first charged with forging-a cheque for £l3 2s in favour of _one, E. Perkins, and uttering to Patrick Ryan, barman at the Empire hotel. He was further charged on Rights.counts' of forgery., \ A fairit smile of' amusement- repeatedly flitted, .across the accused’s face as h&lhktened to the formal language if the long list of charges, and the equally formal evidence adduced by the prosecution. He had no questions to isk witneses, as the evidence was completed in respect of each charge. He timply made his plea of guilty at , the conclusion of the, hearing. •j The accused was convicted on each ofuaine, charges, and was com mi tied to the'Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence.