A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Otaki Mail, 19 September 1923, Page 3

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

' UTTERING VALUELESS CHEQUES. OTAKI PUBLICANS SUFFER. , Hui Thompson was charged at the j Otaki Court to-day, before Messrs H. ' Freeman aud J. R. Bills, J.'sP., with j uttering two valueless cheques to R. I H. Williams for £2 each and one to I Lucy- Marshall for £2. j Detective Quirke represented the Police Department. sS J Rob-id Henry Williams slated: 3 ami licensee of the Kmltvay Hotel. Otaki i *. n the .ISIII Seote i: li.r iust .he accuse-! came into the "hotel, and told mo his' name was Hui Bevan. 1 asked him if I !.e v. as connected with George Bevan I and he said that Bevan was his uncle, j Accused also said he was a son 'oft Robert Bevan. Ho said he had forgotten his cheque book and asked me for a cheque. 1 gave him one (produced). Accused said he had an account in the Bank of New Zealand at Palmerston North. He altered the i cheque from the Bank of Australasia j to the Bank of New Zealand. Palmers- ] ton North, and filled it in for £2 audi

signed it Hui Bevan. 1 gave him cash for lite cheque, after deducting an amount for drinks and exchange. The cheque was paid in and found to be valueless. The same day accused returned and presented a second cheque. 'this was from my book, and he altered it in the same way a- he had altered the previous one. Bucv Marshall, licensee of the -Jubilee Hotel. Otaki, said: On September Hth accused called at the hotel and gave his name as Bevan. He asked me lor a cheque, being tut rodueed to me by mv barman (-toe Fox) as one of the Bevan family. Two other Natives were with accused when he came into the hotel. 1 gave him a cheque (produced) on the Bank of Australasia at Otaki. and it was aUered and filled in for £5 bv my barman and signed Urn Bevan. Accused presented it to mo for payment, and I gave him £2. 1 later handed the cheque over to the police. 1 did not [my the full £5 its I had my doubts about the accused. Accused was quite sober when he presented the cheque. Constable Oreggan stated: I arrested the accused on September lith on the present charges. When I first met him I. asked him his name and he said Unngi Thompson, and I said C though: his name was Hui Bevan. and asked him about the cheque signed .Hm Bevan and cashed by Mrs. Marshall. He replied "I known what you are alter. .1 may as well come along with vou." When i. charged him with the 'offence he said "it is quite right--a man must be mad to do that sort id thing." Robert .Tames Glintiiig'l on s.ated: . tun clerk of the Bank of New Zealand at Pahnerston North. The cheques wore [mid into the Bank, recognised as valueless, and returned. Detective Holmes stated: On the !■ iust. I saw the accused at the Otakt police station and told him I was making enquiries about two valueless cheques, which had been drawn on the Bank of New Zealand at Palmcrstoit Vorth. Accused made a statemonl which he signed. In it he pleaded guilty to the charge. Accused said he had nothing to say in answer to the charges, and pleaded "uilty. He was committed to tin' Supreme Court, Pahnerston North, for sentence.