A STOLEN CHEQUE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 201, 5 June 1914, Page 2

A STOLEN CHEQUE.

Incident at Mercer.

Three Months' Imprisonment.

In the Auckland Supremo Court this week, a middle-aged man named George Roger Weeks wag charged with the theft at Mercer on February lith of a cheque fur £24 8s 6d, and a cum of money nrruunting to £4 7s. the property of Walter Michael I'oland, ani with receiving Ht Auckland on Fe'.uuary 10th a cheqae for £24 83 (id knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained, Ac-used, who pleaded 1 ol guilty, was defended by Mr J. K. l.undon.

The Hon. ,1. A. Tole, K.C., outlined th: case for the Crown, and hj proceeded t<r call e, idencc, Walter Michatl Poland, contactor, residing at Tuakau, pail that lie called at Frees store, Tuakau, on February 51 v i to pay some accounts owing. Ho tendctod h cheque for about £4O and received in change a cheque for £24 8s 0d and about £!* in cash. On February llth he wont to a sale at Mercer. That diy he paid an account of £3. Ho met the accused at the hotel at Mercer, and they had drinks together. After tea he bought a bottle of beer a?d went with accused towards the river bank. They sat down and drank the beer between them and he knew nn moru until the next morning. Whan be awoke ho found the cheque and mincy ha I been tnken. Accused was a stranger to witness, immediately tho 1 ss was discovered ho Have information to the police. Frurk Lawry, pettier, residing at Ellerßlio, said ho accidentally met accused on tin morning of February 10th. The I itter said he had a cheque to cash, rrit!, m be nnid he was net known, witn ss went to tt.e bink with him, Payment was withheld until the Pukekohc branch was communicatid with. In lhe meantim' I)."ective (jjattermiin did witncßJ that the cheque was alleged to be stolen, therefore, when accusal came to hnn by appointment at one o'clock. I.awry said he would liavo nothing further to do with th • transaction. Accused said the cheque, was given to him ly Polirld in payment for some land. Evidence fu - the prosecution was aUo iriven by Henry Fie\ etorekeeper, at Tuakau; Robert Henry .•iharp, sawmill hand, Mercer; Detective 1} lartermmn and Hobert Hsxt r, teller at the National Hark, Auckland.

Accused, in giving evidence nn his own he ha If, said lie had lived in the district fir J5 years. He came up to the Mercer hnttl abviut 8.30 n.m. on Ketnuatv '-'th, but denied that In was drinking with Poland. The latter came into the hotel and joined the company. I'olaid was refused drink on account of his condition. Accused, on oath, denied stealing the cheque, and explained the circumstances by which he alleged it came Into his possession.

Mr LuoCon addressed the jury at considerable length. He denied the charges on behalf of th? accused. In summing up, His Honor said it was perfectly clear that the cheque was stolen. When a person >»ai found shortly after a theft in possession of the stolen property tho onus was on him to sav how ho came by it. Accuied h,id notßivun a satisfactory statement. Thy jury roturr.ed a verdict of guilty on bath counts, with a recommendation to mercy. Mr Lundon, addressing the Court on accused's behalf, said that he had been locked up for four months. Ai this was accused's first offence, he desired to ask for probation. Drink was the caurc of accused's downfall. In irnpising a santence of three months' imprisonment with hard iabour, Mr Justice Stringer said that if accused had frankly admitted the theft in tho first instance his previ us good character would have been t»ken into account and he would have been given another opportunity to redeem himself. Probation would have been extended to him, but as he chose to go Into the witness box and not only commit perjurj but alsj try and fasten the crime en another man, he had to sentence accuied. He considered he had given eirect to the recommendation of the jury by imposing h light sentence.