MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1932, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

GREYMOUTH SITTING. GREYMOUTH, April 19. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, business dealt with by Air W. Aleldriim, S.M., included the lollowing: Leslie Dobson was charged that (1) On April 7, lOdl, at Greymmith, with intent to defraud he did obtain the sum of £l2/14/6 from Ashby Borgh Ltd., by means of a. certain lalse puo* tence to wit, a valueless cheque- drawn on the Bank of Australasia, Christchurch, with intent to defraud, (-) That on April 9. 1932, at Hokitika, did obtain one suit of clothes, six collars, and 133/9/11 in money from W. .Stop ortli by means ol a certain lalse pretence, to wit a valueless cheque, for £B/3/4, drawn on the Rank of New South Wales, Hokitika, with in tent to defraud, (3) That on Ap-il 7. being a person released oil probation under the Crimes Act, lie did tail to comply with the terms of Ins probation order. (4) That he did commit a breach or non-observance oi his probationary license by entering licensed premises during the currency of a prohibition order. Accused pleaded guilty to- all the charges. Sergeant Murray stated that accused had ah office in Christchurch, where he had conducted a business known as the Canterbury Tea Company. He arrived in Gneynioutli with an employee named Rodgers, on April 6, and strived at Revingtou’s Hotel. On April 7. lie went to Ashby Borghb, Ltd., and asked the clerk in the office to cash a ehoqiuo. The e.'erk referred him to -Mr Ashby, whereupon accused .ipforined her that lie had been sent- to the office by -Mr Ashby for the purpose of having the cheque cashed. He.- received Cl2/14/6 in money, and along with Hedgers leit for Hokitika. He there opened an account with tho bank of New South Wales, depositing £3. Dobson then issued a cheque for £8.34, to Hotlggers an account of wages Dodgers bought some clothing, and received £3/6/- as change. When arrested by Sergeant King, accused bad a cheque book in which a number of cheques had been filled in for various amounts. He was arrested in an hotel, and bad a glass of beer in front of him at tho time. He admitted issuing the cheques, and a slim of £l/10/2 was in his possession.

Accused stated that he hud a wife and daughter to support, and but for the fact that he had been intoxicated, he would not have committed the offences.

The S.M. stated that accused had a had record. He had been imprisoned for one month in 1925 for theft, had been (riven two years’ reformative detention in 1921 for false pretences; had been convicted and discharged on another charge; and had served six months’ imprisonment! in 1929, and given two years’ reformative detention. for false pretences. He would hr* convicted and imprisoned for three months at Paparun, tho sum of £l/10/2 to he returned to Ashby Bergli Ltd. On the ether charir's aeonsod was convicted and discharged.

Dobson was also charged that on March 31, at Christchurch, with in* tent to defraud, he did obtain from the Point Elizabeth Coal Company, half a ton of coal, and £B/10/6 in money, hv falsely representing that a cheque drawn on the Bank of Australasia for £lO/3/6 was a. good and valid order for the amount. Accused was remanded to appear at Christchurch on April 20.

SEVERAL CHARGES. Appearing on remand Tvkv Henry Richard Collier was charged (1) Tliat on or about February 26 at Hastings, he did received Iron) W. V. Rascand and others, the sum of £37/2/-, on terms requiring him to account for same to Percival William Ba.yford, Superintendent of the Australian flemperwneo and General Mutual Life Association Society, and did fraudulent-

ly omit to account for same, thereby committing theft; ;2) 1 hat he did obtain a firearm, a .22 calibre Winchester rifle from Henry /(socman Atkinson wiuiout first having been issued a, permit- by an officer of police, puisuant to regulations under the Arms Act, 1926; (3) That being a person other than a licensed dealer undcc the Arms Act, he was in possession of a firearm for a longer period than seven days, without being the registered owner thereof. Accused pleaded guilty to all charges. Sergeant Murray stated that accused was arrested at Hokitika and a- rifle was found in his possession. Collier was convicted and fined 5/-, and 10/- costs on the- second charge, and ordered to pay 10/- costs on the third charge. Sergeant Muiray, in referring to the charge of conversion, stated tlmt accused had been employed by the Company to collect funds. He collected £37/2/-, and then “cleared out.” Later he notified the company that he would be returning within a few days, but he did not return to Napier. He forwarded a list of the monies he had appropriated and nothing more was heard of him till he was arrested at Hokitika. Nothing previous was known against accused. (Jollier was remanded fill A; til 23. lo tumble a report to be furnished by the Probation Officer. Edward Francis Nicholls, alias Nickoils, for being found drunk at tbe (■'reymoutb Euilw'y Station on April 16, was convicted and discharged. A second charge against Niclmlls was that on or a bon I, March 10, at Harwood, Christchurch, lie did commit theft of one gent’s bicycle, valuta.! at £2/6/-, the proper!.v of stunt- person unknown. On the application of t-ho police accused was remanded till April 26.