VALUELESS CHEQUES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2935, 12 September 1925, Page 3

VALUELESS CHEQUES.

ELLIS GUILTY ON EIGHT CHARGES.

Richard Edward Ellis, sometimes known as Robert William Thompson, certainly made a thorough job of it (says the M.D. Times). With 'a. flair for signing to cheques, the name of F. S. Easton, a man of financial standing, he left his labour’s job at Auckland and came to Palmerston North with a pocketful! of the little slips. He then made a thorough round of mercery establishments in Palmerston North, Feilding and Longhorn, visiting seven shops in all. His method was to purchase clothing and tender one of the worthless cheques, purported to he signed by F. S. Easton, for whom Ellis said he worked. The cheques were accepted in all good faith and change tendered, but they were later returned from the bank marked “signature unlike.”

“Guilty,” said Ellis when arraigned at the Palmerston North Police Court yesterday- before Messrs C. F. Spooner and C. 11. Whitehead. The charges were that on July 3rd., at Palmerston North he did make a false document, a valueless cheque for £lO/3/- and purported to l>e signed by F. S. Easton, Foxton and did utter it to Edward George Antis, at Palmerston North, a cheque for £lO/1/- to Neil Colder McAffer; at Palmerston North a cheque for £lO/1/- to Ernest Denham Wycherley; at Feilding a cheque for £lO/9/- to Alex Rold. W, Scott ; at Feilding, a cheque for £5/1/- to Fred D. H. Chappell; at Palmerston North, cheque for £9/1/- to Fred. A. Cousins; at Longburn a cheque for £9/3/- to Samuel James Parkes. Also, that at Pahialua on April 15, lie did obtain £9/12/- in cash and one pair of boots of a. value of 33/0, by means of a false pretence, to wit, a valueless cheque.

Evidence was heard from the shop-keepei’s who had supplied accused with goods on the lines of the first, witness Frederick Chappell, mercer, of Feikling, who stated that on July 3rd last between 7 and 8 p. 111., accused purchased some goods from witness and tendered a cheque in payment. t The cheque was for £5/1/- and drawn on the Bank of New Zealand at Foxton. Witness tendered the change, and (lien sent through his account the cheque, which was later returned dishonoured. Detective Russell read statements made by Ellis, in which the latter admitted that he wrote the name of F. S. Easton on the cheques which lie knew to 'be valueless.

Pleading guilty to all eight charges, accused, a short, ferret-faced individual who complacently chewed gum during the hearing of the evidence was committed to the Supreme Court at Christchurch for sentences. He was then further charged that on April 10, at Dannevirke, by means of a- valueless cheque for £lO, drawn on the Bank of New Zealand, lie did obtain from 11. A. Murray, the sum of £3/15/-, with intent In defraud.

On ibis count be was remanded to appear at DannevirkeO.o-dn.y. Still further charges are pending.