ALLEGED THEFT AND FRAUD

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2248, 8 March 1921, Page 3

ALLEGED THEFT AND FRAUD

YOUNG MAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

At the Palmerston S.M. Court yesterday, before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., Frederick Robinson, a .young man and a stranger to the district, was charged on remand from Foxton that on February 28th, at Foxton, with intent to defraud, he did issue a valueless cheque for £lB 0s 6d, drawn on the Bank of New Zealand, Bulls, whereby lie obtained

from Arthur N. Smith, draper, goods to the value of £B, and £lO in money. Detective-Sergeant Quirke prosefeuted. Accused was also charged with, on February 26th, breaking and entering the premise-. of and theft from the premises of Erie L. Julian, hairdresser, of Bulls.

Eric Julian deposed that oil February 26fh, at 11 p.m., lie left his premises securely locked, but on visiting- the shop at 10 o’clock the following morning lie discovered that entrance bad been effected to the premises by means of a back window in the billiard saloon. He made a- search, and found the till, which bad contained £5 in silver, had been emptied. Witness also missed a quantity of cigarettes and tobacco, and a razor and strop (produced), and a blank cheque from his cheque-book. The cheque produced was from his book.

Arthur N. Smith, draper, of foxton, ffecognised the accused as having visited his store on Monday of last week, when lie bought a suit of clothes, presenting a cheque for £lB Os Gd, signed R. Grant, in payment. The cheque was returned by the Bank.

Constable- O’Donoghue, of Foxton, gave evidence of the arrest of accused, when the razor and strop above mentioned, were found in his

possession. Constable Wilson, of Bulls, also gave evidence. He saw the accused in Julian’s billiard saloon on the night of February 26th. Evidence was also given by Isaac H. Cornwall, manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Bulls.

Constable O’Donogliue, of Foxton, deposed that accused made no reply to the charge of passing the cheque. He was wearing the suit of clothes which had been bought from Mr Smith.

Accused admitted the theft of £3 18s in money, of the razor and strop, and a few packets of cigarettes, and pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and theft, but not guilty to the charge concerning the cheque, and was remanded to the Supreme Court accordingly for sentence at Wellington, and for trial at the next sessions at Palmerston North.