Lived on Valueless Cheques

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 33, 9 February 1937, Page 5

Lived on Valueless Cheques

FURTHER CHARGE AGAINST HABITUAL CRIMINAL

Apparently the public has not heard the last of the escapades of Norman Paul Nesbitt, alias Drinkwater, described as a painter and clerk, aged 29 years, who was declared an habitual criminal in tho Palmerston North Supremo Court on Saturday. Yesterday before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., he appeared in the Magistrate's Court on six charges—three of defrauding by valueless cheques, one of theft,

one of obtaining board and lodgings by fraud and one of forgery. In respect of tl?e valueless cheques, accused obtained £lO 10s from Minnie Weedon, at Waihi, on September 20 last, £4 9s 3d from Bertran Gothard, at Auckland, on September 18 last, and £2 7s 7d from Alex Bruce Christie, at Auckland. At New Plymouth on January 10 he stole £5 in money from Caul Mollen and on January 7 obtained board and lodgings to the value of £4 by fraud from Harrison Nodden. Nesbitt admitted all the offences and was sentenced to one month’s gaol on each, and terms to run concurrently I with his Supreme Court sentence of 2 years' hard labour. Senior-Detective Bickerdike told a story of how accused had gono from one hotel to another paying his board with the valueless cheques and collecting the change. The forms he had bought off another man. Accused’s “list” consisted of 33 previous convictions and nothing much could be said in his favour. On a charge of forging a cheque for £6 10s at Ohalcune on September 29, purporting to be signed by the Wanganui Education Board in the name of A. T. Blyth, Nesbitt was remanded to appear at Ohakune.