OFFENCE WITH CHEQUE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 219, 16 August 1937, Page 6

OFFENCE WITH CHEQUE.

HARD LABOUR SENTENCE. Three months’ imprisonment with hard labour was the sentence imposed on Ernest Arthur Tremere Johnstone, aged 23, a labourer, of no fixed abode, when he pleaded guilty before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, to-day, to a charge of obtaining £8 17s from Albert Jensen, at Napier, on August 3, by means of a cheque for £l2 which allegedly was valueless. Detective-Sergeant Meiklejohn said accused had gone to Wairoa with a, land agent and had made an offer Of £25,000 for a station thore. On In* return to Napier, obtaining a cheque form, he had paid for his board at an hotel by means of a valueless cheque, receiving £8 17b. He had come to Palmerston North on August 5 and on August 7 had tried to buy blank cheque'forms from various banks, the police getting to hear of it. It was then found that there was a warrant out for his arrest. Accused had been before the Court before. Mr G. Croseley, for accused, said the latter had, so far, not been of very much assistance to the State, but there were certain circumstances which lie wished the Magistrate to consider. Accused’s father liad died when accused was seven years of age; and at eight accused had been in trouble, being sent to a State farm. He came out at the age of 21 and had been in trouble again almost immediately, oh a false pretences charge. Just a little more than a week after being released he had committed the offence with which he was charged. The Land and Income Tax Department had informed him'that he was assessed for arrears of levies,' and accused appeared to be affected with a form of megalomania in offering £25,000 for a property. Accused had never had the advantage of having a good family or a good education. The Magistrate sentenced accused to three months’ hard labour, as already stated, remarking on the fact that accused had been before the Court previously.